Editing Colony (section)

== Colonization ==
Before creating a colony, a player must first decide on a suitable planet. [[Colony cost]] and [[mineral]] content are one of the most important factors to consider. 

=== Setting Up a New Colony ===
Colonies can be established on the surface of almost any [[body|system body]], with the exception of gas giants. The 'system view' {{key|F9}} provides you with pertinent information about known bodies. You can alternately use the 'potential colonies' {{key|Ctrl+A}} view in [[VB6]], or the 'mineral survey' view in [[CSharp|C#]]. Additional information about the planets mineral deposits and archaeological sites can be made available by conducting [[survey]]s. 

Once decided either: Right-click the planet on the 'system map', and select "New Colony" from the populations sub-menu; or select the planet from the 'system view' list, and click the "Add Colony" button at the bottom. 

Your new colony will now appear in the [[Population and Production]] screen {{key|F2}}, although this is initially a purely administrative label. In order to actually have a working economic presence on a world, some [[installations]] must be put in place. Cargo ships can be ordered to lift installations from another colony and drop them here.

Note: Colonies can be abandoned at any time. Click the "Abandon Colony" at the bottom of the Population window. Everything you leave behind will be lost and cannot be recovered later.

=== Additional C# Colony Creation Methods ===
In C#, colonies may also be created through the following interfaces:

==== System View Window ====
Select a surveyed body in System View and click '''Create Colony'''.  
Used for population centers, industrial sites, mining colonies, terraforming targets, and strategic bases.

==== System Map – Miscellaneous Tab (Deep Space Populations) ====
Open the System Map, select the '''Miscellaneous''' tab, click '''Create Deep Space Population''', then click a point in the system and name the colony.  
Used for logistics hubs, refueling points, repair anchors, and other deep‑space infrastructure.

==== Mineral Survey Window ====
Open the Mineral Survey window, select a surveyed body, and click '''Create Colony'''.  
Used for establishing mining colonies immediately after discovering deposits.

=== Planetary Suitability ===
:''See also: [[Colony cost]] and [[Terraforming]]''

Whether or not an actual population can easily survive on your colony is a matter that must be considered. While you can put ground bases, troops, sensors etc on any colonize-able world. You will need actual population to run shipyards, factories, etc, for which worlds has to be habitable or at least have enough infrastructure for the inhabitants.

The suitability of each planet is determined by its gravity, temperature, and atmosphere; and will vary considerably depending on the [[species]] tolerances, so a world that is ideal for humans may be uninhabitable for some other species and vice versa. The amount of infrastructure required to support the population is measured by the [[colony cost]]. A world with too little gravity requires specialized forms of [[Infrastructure]], or alternately the use of [[Orbital Habitats]]. 

Planets suitability and subsequently its colony cost can be improved over time by [[terraforming]], by utilizing [[Terraforming Installation]]s on the planet or [[terraforming module]]s in orbit.