Technologies specifically designed for the surface or immediate environment of a planet (or large moon). This is "planetary gear" tailored to local conditions: pressurized rovers for Mars, insulated diggers for the frozen crust of Europa, balloon-based drones for Venus's upper atmosphere, or automated mining bots for the Moon. The focus is on operating within a specific gravity well, weathering local dust storms or ice, and utilizing in-situ resources. It's the frontier outpost hardware.
Example: "The Martian farm uses bespoke planetary technology: automated greenhouses with LED suns tuned to the red planet's dust-filtered light spectrum, drills that pull water from permafrost, and soil processors that remove toxic perchlorates. The first batch of 'Mars-tatoes' tasted like victory and regret." Planetary Technologies
by Abzugal January 30, 2026
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