Loose module (M)

Loose module (M) is a Cargo Dock module used to configure what resource an outpost ship will load. After the module is built, its cargo type must be assigned in the module UI, and the available selection depends on which outpost has been discovered and repaired: Sulfur Mine, Quartz Mine, or Uranium Mine.

Cargo Dock modules can be mixed and matched freely. Adjacent modules may also be set to different cargo types, and even the module types themselves can be combined as needed. In practice, modules that share a Cargo Dock are often built in identical pairs so Cargo ship management is simpler. If a ship is not fully unloaded, it can wait idle for several months before heading out again, so mixing module types can cause the vessel to wait on a less-used cargo type to empty, lowering throughput and potentially creating shortages of the more-used cargo.

The carrying capacity of a small Cargo Dock module is high enough that it can often keep up with outpost extraction. Based on an average download speed of 38.0 units per 60 seconds, one small Cargo Dock module can continuously outpace a 1-shift Sulfur Mine, Quartz Mine, or Uranium Mine outpost. It can also outpace a 2-shift Sulfur Mine or Quartz Mine outpost, and it can nearly match a 2-shift Uranium Mine outpost. For 3-shift outposts, two small Cargo Dock modules are enough to continuously outpace Quartz Mine and Uranium Mine production, while a single small module still exceeds a 3-shift Sulfur Mine.

• Sulfur Mine extraction is the easiest to cover with a single small module.
• Quartz Mine requires more attention at higher shift counts, especially if the dock serves multiple cargo types.
• Uranium Mine places the highest sustained demand on throughput, so pairing modules is more likely to be worthwhile.
• If one cargo type is much less active than the others, avoid mixing it into the same shared dock unless longer turnaround times are acceptable.