CONTROLS

There are two layouts. Switch between them in Settings (press O on the title screen or in flight). Your choice is remembered.

Classic (default)

< / >	Roll left / right (or ← / →)
S / X	Dive / climb (or ↑ / ↓)
Space	Accelerate
?	Decelerate
A	Fire laser (watch the laser temperature gauge)

Modern (WASD)

A / D	Roll left / right (or ← / →)
↑ / ↓	Dive / climb
W / S	Accelerate / decelerate
Space	Fire laser

Both layouts

C	Request docking clearance from your target station (or the nearest one)
K	Docking computer: flies the approach and docking for you at 4× speed (buy it at the citadel or yards)
J	In-system jump: a fast hop straight ahead, blocked by mass lock
T	Target whatever is nearest the crosshair (press again to cycle). Shows its name, job, cargo and destination
G	Sector chart (hover a system for details)
Y	Invert pitch
O	Settings: switch control scheme, invert pitch
P / Esc	Pause and show the keys

READING THE PANEL

Scanner: the ellipse is the space around you seen from above, with forward at the top. Each contact is a dot on a stalk, and the stalk shows how far above or below you it is. Cyan is the station; green is other ships.
Compass: points to the station inside its safe zone, and to the planet everywhere else. A filled dot means the target is ahead of you, a hollow dot means it is behind.
Jump status (top left): MASS LOCK means a ship within 5,000 units, the station within 4,000, or the planet too close. Jumps stop short of anything in your path.
S: lights up inside the station's safe zone.
Laser temperature rises with each shot. If it hits the top, the laser locks until it cools.

DOCKING AND TRADING

Clearance: press C. Traffic control either clears you or puts you in the queue behind other ships. Once you're cleared, the slot is outlined on the station and a readout shows speed, roll and axis.
Flying in: line up with the slot, match the station's roll so your wings sit along the slot, and keep under 140 relative speed. Too fast and you bounce off with damage; misaligned and you scrape. Docking without clearance costs a 250 cr fine.
In the station: the Market tab trades goods. Prices follow each station's stock, so buy where something is made and sell where it's needed. The Services tab has repairs, the docking computer and cargo bay upgrades. Press L to launch.
Saving: the game saves whenever you dock. Press Enter on the title screen to continue.

SHIPS

Mosquito · Light multi-role: Your ship. Quick, cheap to run, and lightly armed.
Spitfire · Interceptor: A long dart with heavily swept wings, flown by system militias and racers.
Harrier · Patrol craft: A stubby, tough wedge used for customs patrols near stations.
Lancaster · Freighter: A long octagonal cargo hull, and the most common traffic in any system.
Dreadnought · Bulk hauler: A huge armoured transport, too big to dock. It moves its cargo by shuttle.
Sea King · Mining tender: A boxy belt worker with forward cutting arms. It hauls ore to the refinery.
Dakota · Passenger shuttle: A high-winged people mover that runs between the habitats and stations.
Chinook · Service tug: A twin-pod tug that maintains satellites and beacons and tows disabled ships.
Hercules · Sanitation barge: Collects waste containers from the stations and ships them out through the gate.
Tempest · Heavy fighter: A militia heavy fighter. Its forward-swept wings swing out to full span for an attack run.
Hellcat · Carrier fighter: A rugged straight-winged fighter that flies from the hangars of the Ark Royal.
Hornet · Interceptor: A tiny, fast arrowhead. The Vanguard launches them three at a time.
Constitution · Escort frigate: A slim, quick warship with side missile pods. It hits back hard when attacked.
Vanguard · Battleship: An armoured battleship with three gun turrets. It launches Hornet interceptors from a stern hangar.
Ark Royal · Fleet carrier: A vast carrier with a flight deck the length of a city. Hellcats launch from hangars at its bow and stern.