Ostranauts Salvage Run Checklist

Salvage is how most captains pay the mortgage — but only when permits, tools, suits, and cargo math align before undock. A ₡5000 permit wasted on a half-planned EVA, or a haul of “Damaged” modules sold at scrap prices, hurts as much as a bad dock. Use this checklist alongside How to Salvage for workflow depth and the salvage economy overview for pricing context.

Before you buy the permit

Permits are daily, not per-wreck. Buy when you will complete work today.

• Checked in-game date — permits reset on the day boundary
• Wallet covers permit (~$5000 at OKLG-era pricing) plus mortgage tick if due this shift
• Target derelict(s) identified on nav / boneyard map — not “fly out and hope”
• Round-trip fuel calculated with RCS margin
• Shift clock reviewed with the mortgage shift planner so you return before broke status
• Weather / traffic acceptable — post–Fire in the Hold routes may include hostile contacts near Ceres; OKLG boneyard is safer learning ground

If you cannot name the wreck and the uninstall goal, delay the permit purchase.

Tools and uninstall gear

Wrong or missing tools mean fumbled uninstalls and damaged parts.

Tool role	Packed?	Notes
Uninstall / cutting tools	[ ]	Match part types on target wreck
Tether and containers	[ ]	Loose items drift — fatal in EVA
Power tools charged	[ ]	Battery tools die mid-cut
Spare batteries or fuel cells	[ ]	For ship and tools
Repair kit (hull / suit)	[ ]	Minor tears grow on long EVA
Nav beacon or trail markers	[ ]	Optional but helps on dark hulls

Stage tools at the airlock you will actually use, not in a cargo room three doors away. Panic EVA starts at the wrong locker.

EVA suit and life support

• Suit integrity green — see atmosphere checklist for full suit section
• O2 bottles rated for planned EVA + 30% margin
• Helmet, gloves, and seals inspected after last run
• Crew suits if anyone assists — death pay makes crew loss expensive (Hire Crew)
• Airlock cycle rehearsed: inner secure, pressure equalize, outer open
• Ship atmosphere stable before you exit — do not EVA while bridge is still leaking

Solo captains still benefit from stowing a backup suit if cargo space allows. One torn seal ends the run.

Ship and haul plan

Know what you are bringing back before you cut the first bolt.

• Cargo mass and volume estimated — fusion of big modules may require multiple trips
• Uninstall order planned: valuable / fragile first, structural last
• Condition risk accepted — some parts degrade if rushed
• Docking plan at OKLG or vendor station on return
• Clamp and RCS fuel for attaching loose hull sections if hauling wrecks
• Vendor identified: who buys intact avionics vs scrap metal

Reference salvage economy for which components retain value when “Used” versus “Damaged.” The checklist row is simple: if repair cost exceeds resale, strip on site.

On-site EVA sequence

At the derelict, repeat mentally:

1. Survey — note hazards, spin, sharp debris, remaining atmosphere on wreck
2. Secure — tether ship, stabilize approach, confirm permit coverage for this hull ID if required
3. Uninstall — correct tool, correct order, store in tagged container
4. Haul — mass within tow rating; watch VREL on return
5. No heroics — low O2 or suit yellow means abort to ship

Mark completed sections on paper as you go. Fatigue causes skipped steps.

Repair before sell

Vendors punish damaged goods. Budget time before the shift ends.

• Parts inspected in cargo bay under good lighting
• Repair bench or tool workflow ready dockside
• Condition upgraded where cost-effective — compare repair parts cost vs sale price delta
• Junk flagged for scrap instead of wasting repair materials
• Sales routed to correct buyer — some stations pay better for specific categories

Selling “Damaged” fusion components because you skipped a ₡200 repair is the most common salvage income leak at OKLG.

Post-run closeout

• Credits logged against next mortgage tick
• Tools restowed at airlock staging point
• Suits serviced or swapped
• Permit day used fully — if not, note why (abort reason) for tomorrow’s plan
• Hull damage from debris or docking repaired before next undock

Abort criteria

Call the run early if:

• Suit or ship O2 trending wrong with no quick fix
• Hostile contact approaching and you are not combat-ready
• Haul exceeds safe tow mass — make a second trip tomorrow
• Shift clock will hit mortgage before you can sell

Aborting is cheaper than a Rescue When Stranded bill plus lost gear.

Related pages

• How to Salvage — permit office workflow, uninstall mechanics, hauling wrecks
• salvage economy — pricing, vendors, condition tiers
• How to Fly and Dock — approaching drifting derelicts safely
• mortgage shift planner — credit timing around permit days

Print this checklist and tape it near your desk. Salvage rewards captains who pack once and think twice.