Spaceship launch

[AlanH]

On my first game using civ2/3 rules, and reached the point of being able to launch my spaceship. However, although the odds are 100%, it's short of 4 modules. The time it will take is 11.9 years.
What to do? Launch, or build the missing 4 modules to get a swifter journey?
I chose to build the 4 modules.
Mistake.
The spaceship (complete) will now take 15 years. Still 100%.
This has to be a mistake. Surely, a complete spaceship should be making the fastest journey? Am I missing something?

[cazfi]

It's heavier with the additional modules, so it's slower if you have the same number of engines to provide the thrust.

[AlanH]

Lighter, yes, but also riskier. The chance of success should not be 100%.

[Rudolph Lucas]

Lighter Drift Boss, yes, but also riskier. The chance of success should not be 100%.

What method must we choose to achieve 100%? Have you tried a better method?

[NotTired]

I found a suggestion for the optimal strategy for launching a space ship to Alpha Centauri many years ago. I've used it ever since, and it's never failed. The "Chance of Success" means the odds that you'll get to AC before anyone else. if nobody else is even trying to get there, your odds are pretty much 100%. It is thus important that you keep your plans to yourself, lest another player tried to get there first.


Building Space Ship
Requires three parts for space flight: Structurals, Modules, and Components.
1) Research Space Flight Technology.
2) Build the Apollo Project Wonder – can’t skip this!
3) Research Superconductors and Plastics.
4) Build the following Units, in the following order:
a. three Space Modules (requires Superconductors)
b. 16 Space Components, two or four at a time (requires Plastics)
c. 21 Space Structurals. No advantage to building more.
They need NOT be built in the same City, and need not be transported to one City.
If the Units are built in any City, they are put together automatically.
5) Observe construction progress by tapping [F12] to get to the Space Race Page.
6) Launch Ship by clicking the [Launch] Button in the lower right of the Space Race Page.
7) View the expected Turn of arrival at Alpha Centauri by tapping [F12]
8) After eight more Turns, you win!

[taifo]

I found a suggestion for the optimal strategy for launching a space ship to Alpha Centauri many years ago. I've used it ever since, and it's never failed. The "Chance of Success" means the odds that you'll get to AC before anyone else. if nobody else is even trying to get there, your odds are pretty much 100%. It is thus important that you keep your plans to yourself, lest another player tried to get there first.


Building Space Ship
Requires three parts for space flight: Structurals, Modules, and Components.
1) Research Space Flight Technology.
2) Build the Apollo Project Wonder – can’t skip this!
3) Research Superconductors and Plastics.
4) Build the following Units, in the following order: شركة نقل عفش شركة نقل عفش بالطائف
a. three Space Modules (requires Superconductors)
b. 16 Space Components, two or four at a time (requires Plastics)
c. 21 Space Structurals. No advantage to building more.
They need NOT be built in the same City, and need not be transported to one City.
If the Units are built in any City, they are put together automatically.
5) Observe construction progress by tapping [F12] to get to the Space Race Page.
6) Launch Ship by clicking the [Launch] Button in the lower right of the Space Race Page.
7) View the expected Turn of arrival at Alpha Centauri by tapping [F12]
8) After eight more Turns, you win!

Hey, thanks for the tip! Followed your strategy and it worked great, made it to Alpha Centauri without any issues. appreciate your sharing!

[Dino the Dinosore]

You can build space ship parts in any order. I usually build 6 Components, which then need fewer Structurals (maybe 15?). Once you start building any space ship parts the AI's all instantly know about it and will become more hostile.