Jump Space Radiation Guide
Radiation is one of the most dangerous hazards in Jump Space. It doesn’t show up much in early missions or while playing solo, but as you climb into harder sectors with bigger crews, radiation starts to become a real threat… It can even directly shut down systems and force your crew to scramble.
How Radiation Works in Jump Space
Radiation events trigger once you move into tougher missions, usually with 3–4 players. Unlike hull damage that you can patch, radiation floods your ship and disables systems on the grid. When that happens, anything plugged into those slots goes dark until power is restored.
Buddy can handle smaller issues in solo play, but once radiation is active, he won’t be enough to keep things under control. That’s when real crew coordination is required.
Ship Management Under Radiation
Radiation ties directly to your ship’s reactor and power grid. Certain reactors have “protected slots,” which are supposed to keep systems online during hazards. If you’re running an unprotected layout, radiation will knock out even vital systems like shields or engines.
Managing radiation means:
Watching the reactor grid and prioritizing which plugs go into protected slots.
Having an engineer ready to reload shields, swap fuses, and keep turrets online.
Sending someone on EVA if external components are hit during a radiation event.
The bigger your crew, the more these breakdowns will stack. What feels calm with two players becomes a juggling act with four.
Final Blurb
Radiation in Jump Space turns ship management into controlled chaos. Early runs let you coast with Buddy handling the work, but higher-tier missions demand planning, strong reactor layouts, and quick coordination to survive. Treat radiation seriously, or it will rip your ship apart.
FAQ
When does radiation start appearing in Jump Space?
Radiation hazards usually appear in higher difficulty missions and when playing with three or more players.
What does radiation do to the ship?
It disables systems on the power grid, knocking turrets, shields, or engines offline until restored.
Can Buddy fix radiation damage?
Buddy helps in solo play but won’t fully handle radiation breakdowns in harder missions. You need players actively managing repairs.
How do protected reactor slots help?
Protected slots are designed to keep systems online during hazards like radiation, though their reliability is still being adjusted in Early Access.
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