What Is Procedural Generation in Games

You’ve just spent an hour meticulously mining resources on a hostile, irradiated planet. Your starship’s launch thrusters are finally fueled, the pulse drive is ready, and the vast, star-dusted cosmos is calling. You climb into your cockpit, hit the launch button… and nothing happens. Your ship is stuck, grounded by an invisible force. If you’re a traveler in the ever-expanding universe of No Man’s Sky, you’ve likely encountered the frustrating “Can’t Take Off” bug. This guide is your definitive manual to getting back amongst the stars, whether you’re playing on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch.This issue typically isn’t about a lack of resources, but rather a glitch in the game’s complex simulation. No Man’s Sky is a massive, procedurally generated universe where billions of planets, creatures, and systems interact. Occasionally, these interactions—like terrain regenerating under your ship, a quicksave conflict, or a minor gameplay state error—can cause your ship to believe it’s not in a launch-ready state. Think of it as a cosmic parking brake that’s been accidentally engaged by the game’s own code. Don’t worry; you won’t be stranded forever. We’ll walk you through simple and advanced fixes to solve this gravitational defiance.Quick Solution (For the Impatient Traveler)The fastest and most reliable fix is to simply summon your ship to another location. Open your quick menu (D-pad down on console, X on PC), navigate to the summon vehicle icon, and select your current starship. Choose a flat spot of land a short distance away. If you have launch fuel, this will instantly teleport your ship, resetting its state and almost always freeing it for launch.Detailed Step-by-Step SolutionsFollow these steps methodically. Start with Step 1, and if your ship is still grounded, proceed to the next.Step 1: The Basic Systems Check
Before blaming a bug, rule out the simple stuff. Open your ship’s inventory. Ensure your Launch Thrusters have fuel (Launch Fuel or Uranium). Also, check for any obvious damage to the thrusters or engines that requires repair with Iron, Carbon, or other elements. A depleted thruster is the most common non-bug reason for being stuck.Step 2: The Summoning Trick (Primary Fix)
As mentioned in the quick fix, this is your go-to solution.

Walk at least 200-300 units away from your stranded ship.

Open your Quick Menu (D-pad Down / X).

Navigate to the summoning icon (looks like a starship).

Select “Summon Starship” and pick your current ship.

Choose a viable, flat location. The game will spend one launch charge to place it there.

Approach your newly summoned ship and attempt to take off.

Step 3: Reload Your Game State
A reload often resets glitched physics and object states.

• Reload Autosave: Enter and exit your ship to create a new autosave, then immediately reload that autosave from the Options/Game menu.
• Reload Manual Save: If you have a slightly older manual save, load it. You may lose a small amount of progress, but it’s a solid reset.

Step 4: Attempt a Multiplayer Reset (For Supported Platforms)
If you have PlayStation Plus, Xbox Live, or Nintendo Switch Online, use multiplayer to your advantage.

Join a friend’s game session or have them join yours.

Once in the same instance, have your friend stand near your ship.

Save your game, then exit to the main menu.

Re-join your friend’s session. Your ship should be spawnable and functional in this fresh instance.

Step 5: The Terrain Manipulator Workaround
Sometimes, the terrain has grown just enough to clip into your landing gear, confusing the game.

1. Unlock and install the Terrain Manipulator multi-tool attachment if you haven’t already.
2. Use it in Restore Mode (not mine) around all the landing gear of your ship.
3. Flatten the ground thoroughly. Then, try the summoning trick (Step 2) again.

Step 6: The Last Resort – Claim a New Ship
If you’re truly desperate and on a planet with a Transmission Tower or a distress signal, you can find a crashed starship.

1. Find and claim the crashed ship. It will become your primary ship.
2. Fly the new ship (you may need to repair its basic systems) to the nearest space station.
3. Once in the space station, your old, stuck ship will be stored in yourfreighter or can be summoned to the station’s landing pad for free,where its bugged state should be cleared.

How to Prevent the Issue From Happening Again

While not 100% avoidable, these practices can minimize your risk:

• Manual Save Before Takeoff: Get into the habit of using a Save Beacon or your ship’s save point before launching, especially after long planetary sessions.
• Summon to Landing Pads: When on a planetary base or outpost with a landing pad, always summonyour ship to the pad. Pads provide free takeoffs and are less prone toterrain bugs.
• Keep Thrusters Fueled: Always carry a stack of Uranium or Launch Fuel. A depleted thruster can mimic bug-like behavior.
• Avoid Saving in Weird Positions: Try not to create manual saves while your ship is perched on steep terrain or halfway inside a building.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: I have fuel and my ship is undamaged, but it still won’t launch. Is my save file corrupted?
A: Almost certainly not. The “Can’t Take Off” bug is a common, temporarystate glitch, not a save corruption issue. The summoning or reload fixes almost always work without damaging your save.

Q2: Does this happen more on specific platforms (PC vs. PlayStation vs. Switch)?
A: The bug is universal, as it’s related to the game’s core code. However, performance can vary. Older hardware or systems with less RAM mightexperience world-state glitches (like terrain regrowth) slightly moreoften, which can contribute.

Q3: I’m on a freighter and can’t take off. What do I do?
A: This is usually a different issue. Exit your ship on the freighter tocreate an autosave, then reload that autosave immediately. This resetsyour position inside the freighter’s hangar.

Q4: What if the summoning option is greyed out?
A: This usually means you lack launch fuel or you’re in an area where summoning is restricted (e.g., during a storm,inside a building, or on a derelict freighter). Move to a more open area and ensure you have fuel.

Q5: Will Hello Games patch this out?
A: No Man’s Sky receives constant updates. While specific bugs come and go, thedevelopers are excellent at squashing major, recurring issues over time. Always ensure your game is updated to the latest version.

Staring at the sky from a planet’s surface is beautiful, but it’s not where atraveler is meant to stay. With these fixes in your toolkit, a groundedship becomes a minor delay, not a journey-ending crisis. The universe of No Man’s Sky is waiting, full of undiscovered wonders and strange new worlds.

Did this guide get your engines firing again? Share your own survivalstories or tricky bugs you’ve overcome in the comments below—yoursolution might rescue another stranded traveler! And if you found thishelpful, explore our other guides on finding rare ships, building theultimate base, or surviving permadeath mode. Safe travels, Interloper!

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