Anno 2205 Orbital Station: Layout

Unlike ground-based factories, the Orbital Station does not use roads. Instead, it uses a hexagonal grid with a central core. Every module you place has a specific footprint (1x1, 1x2, or 3x3 hexes) and requires Energy Credits and Orbital Operating Capacity.

The golden rule: You cannot run a single scanner or shield generator without balancing Crew and Power.

The station produces three critical global assets:

A bad layout leaves you starved for power or scanning range. A great layout maximizes synergy modules that boost each other.

The Orbital Station in Anno 2205 is a puzzle of adjacency, supply, and demand. A poor layout will hamstring your corporation, leaving you vulnerable to disasters and resource shortages. A great layout will make the late-game sectors feel like easy mode.

Remember the golden rules:

Now, fire up your orbital interface, demolish that chaotic mess of modules, and build a station worthy of the year 2205. The Lunar colonists are counting on you.

The Orbital Research Space Station is a specialized modular structure introduced in the Anno 2205: Orbit DLC . Its primary purpose is to generate Expertise, a resource used in the Technology Nexus to unlock powerful global bonuses for your terrestrial and lunar colonies . Core Mechanics of Station Layout

Unlike standard buildings, the orbital station is a single entity expanded by attaching modules and connectors. Effective layouts must manage two primary constraints: Astronaut count and Heat management .

Modules & Connectors: Connectors extend the station's footprint, while modules provide the actual research capacity. Anno 2205 Orbital Station Layout

Orbital Workshops: These are the heart of the station, producing up to 100 Expertise units each .

Maximum Capacity: In the base game, players are restricted to 12 workshop kits, forcing strategic choices between different research types (Energy, Agriculture, Biotech, etc.) . Optimized Layout Strategies

Community-tested layouts focus on maximizing the "Expertise per Module" ratio. Below are some images of common orbital station designs:

In Anno 2205 , the Orbital Station layout is a complex "puzzle" where you must balance heat, distance, and module sharing to maximize Expertise.  Optimal 12-Workshop Layout Strategy 

A widely recommended endgame configuration is the 4/3/3/1/1 split, which maximizes profit and production efficiency: 

4 Electronics Workshops: High priority for obtaining "free" Intelliwear, one of the most valuable tier 4 resources.

3 Agriculture Workshops: Provides a 20% production bonus; going for 5 is often considered too space-inefficient.

3 Biotech Workshops: Essential for broad consumable bonuses and enabling the Rejuvenator alternate production.

1 Energy & 1 Heavy Industry: These provide a baseline 10% production bonus to their respective sectors.  Core Layout Mechanics  Unlike ground-based factories, the Orbital Station does not

Distance and Temperature: Modules do not need to be adjacent to a workshop, but effectiveness and heat output decrease by 2 units for every "step" away they are placed. The maximum effective range is approximately 6 steps.

Thermal Management: Avoid placing workshops within 7 steps of each other without obstruction, as their base heat (often 40 units) will bleed into one another and tank efficiency.

Module Sharing: Use "plus-sign" shapes with connectors to allow a single module to connect to multiple workshops, which is necessary because you have a limited total number of modules.

Line of Sight: For a module to affect a workshop, there must be a clear, unobstructed path of connectors between them.  Quick Start Tips 

Astronaut Staffing: Surround your launch pad with enough residences to staff your workshops; one workshop typically requires 50% staff capacity, while two require 100%.

Early Expansion: Focus first on the Agriculture tree to unlock expansion kits and additional workshops quickly.

Efficiency Caps: A workshop can reach up to 100 Expertise units—80 from layout optimization and the final 20 by importing specific goods via transfer routes. 

For a visual guide on building blocks and service coverage, you can reference the Anno 2205 Wiki Building Layouts. 

The Anno 2205 Orbital Station Layout is not about squeezing in every possible module. It is about flow, adjacency, and strategic zoning. A well-designed station turns your corporation into a seamless machine: resources flow from the Arctic to Earth, up to the Moon, and back down as advanced goods, all while your research labs unlock planet-changing technologies. The golden rule: You cannot run a single

Remember the golden rules: cluster energy, centralize logistics, and separate research from cargo. Avoid the temptation to build randomly. Plan your station with the same care you would a Temperate city, and you will dominate the solar system.

Now, take these blueprints, go to your orbital construction interface, and build the station that will carry your corporation to the stars. The cosmos waits for no one—especially not a chaotic orbit.

Further Reading:

Have a better layout? Share your orbital blueprints in the comments below!

This layout balances all three outputs with maximum adjacency bonuses.

Row 1:  [QF] [Solar 2x2] [Solar 2x2] [Solar 2x2] [QF] [Logistics Hub]
Row 2:  [Solar] [Zero-G Lab] [Zero-G Lab] [Solar] [Solar] [Logistics Hub]
Row 3:  [Solar] [Zero-G Lab] [Zero-G Lab] [Solar] [Solar] [Hydroponic]
Row 4:  [Solar] [Solar] [Solar] [Solar] [Solar] [Hydroponic]
Row 5:  [QF] [Solar] [Solar] [Solar] [QF] [Logistics Hub]
Row 6:  [Vacant] [Vacant] [Vacant] [Vacant] [Vacant] [Logistics Hub]

Legend:

The Orbital Station has a central docking hub. Every module you add increases the distance cargo shuttles must travel. Place your most frequently used logistics modules (Cargo Terminals, Launch Pads) closest to the central hub to minimize travel time.

Never place a Deep Space Array next to a Solar Array. The electromagnetic interference from the solar panels reduces scanner efficiency by 20%. Keep scanners in a "clean" sector of your layout, far from power generation.

Your Orbital Station layout directly affects which Sector Projects you can complete efficiently.

Always check the required modules for the active global project before finalizing your layout. Flexibility is key—you can demolish and rebuild modules at no cost (only time).