You are an astronaut contractor for the Lunar Surface Department (LSD). Your goal is to clear dust from hexagonal tiles across the Moon. Early on, manual sweeping is slow, but following the correct reinvestment path will transition you into automated conveyor production within 45 minutes.
STEP 01 Toothbrush Phase & First Deposits
When you land, your inventory contains only a standard issue toothbrush. Each swipe clears a tiny patch of grey lunar regolith, revealing clean lunar terrain underneath.
- Sweep 15 Sections
Target adjacent hexagonal patches right outside your landing outpost. Sweep until your personal dust canister reaches capacity (10 kg).
- Deposit at the Central Hopper
Walk to the main depot station. Step up to the intake hopper and interact to dump your dust. In current builds, payouts are credited immediately into your account.
- Visit the Purchased Gear Terminal
Locate the terminal marked "Purchased Gear" near the supply wall. Your first purchase must be the Nail Brush ($150).
STEP 02 Tool Progression Priority
Do not buy every single item in the store! Conserve your hard-earned funds for tools that multiply your sweep surface area.
| Tool Name | Price | Capacity | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toothbrush | $0 (Default) | 10 kg | LSD standard issue. Cleans a tiny pinpoint. Sweep 15 sections to fund your first upgrade. |
| Nail Brush | $150 | 25 kg | Roughly 3× faster cleaning sweep area than toothbrush. Recommended to clean 150 sections before upgrading to wide broom. |
| Extra-Wide Broom | $450 | 50 kg | Covers whole paths at walking speed. Crucial mid-tier tool until vehicles and conveyor belts take over. |
| Industrial Heavy Broom | $1,200 | 100+ kg | Can pick dust back up directly off misplaced ground or broken conveyor spills. |
SECRET STRATEGY Exploiting Flag Bounty Cash
If you want to skip manual sweeping altogether, take advantage of exploration rewards:
- 195 Apollo-Style Flags: Each flag claimed by pressing E rewards an instant $100.
- 26 Historical Survey Sites: Each site documented rewards $250.
- 12 Exploration Stations: Unlocking stations reveals large swathes of the lunar grid on your HQ map board.
STEP 03 Unlocking Factory Construction
Once you accumulate approximately $1,000 to $1,500 through sweeping or flag hunting:
- Purchase the Construction Hammer from the tool terminal.
- Open your build menu (Q or Tab) to access foundations, conveyor belts, splitters, and processing machinery.
- Construct flat 3-meter foundations adjacent to your base. Ensure foundation pieces snap evenly together—uneven ground causes machinery placement errors.
- Construct your first Pressure Chamber ($1,200) to compress raw dust into sand before selling.
WARNING 4 Mistakes That Ruin Early Runs
FAQ Field Guide Questions
How do I start making money in Moon Sweepers?
Use your starting Toothbrush to clean 15 lunar surface sections. Deposit the collected dust directly at the deposit intake hopper. With your first earnings, buy the Nail Brush ($150) from the Purchased Gear terminal to dramatically expand your sweeping radius.
What is the fastest way to get early cash without sweeping?
Explore the immediate sector on foot: finding claimable Apollo-style flags awards $100 per flag, and survey sites award $250. Finding just 3–5 flags grants you enough startup capital to skip multiple low-tier manual tools.
Why should I avoid buying 3 tool belt slots early on?
Tool belt slot 3 costs valuable early credits that should instead go towards the Construction Tool (Hammer) and your first Pressure Chamber factory foundation. 2 tool belt slots are plenty to carry your main broom and hammer.
How does night time affect base operations?
Solar trackers stop generating electricity during the lunar night. If your battery storage is insufficient, conveyor belts, pressure chambers, and stone presses halt until dawn. Always install battery banks and 16–18 solar trackers per factory line.