It's pretty straightforward once you understand how it all works. The game actually does a neat job with the physics, making planets spin and orbit just like youd expect, which creates this really authentic feel when youre exploring. The really interesting part is how they handle the faster-than-light stuff - something i was curious about when i first started playing.

The whole thing runs through this system called the atlas, which basically lets them have it both ways. You get your realistic day-night cycles and orbiting planets, but then when you need to zip across the galaxy, the game has this clever explanation about folding space that actually makes sense within its own rules.

Sure, some things arent exactly nasa-approved like how close the moons orbit to planets, but thats where the atlas simulation idea really helps out. Since everything is technically running in this cosmic simulation engine, it kinda gives them a free pass to bend the rules when they need to. Been playing for a while now and honestly, the way they blend the realistic stuff with the sci-fi elements feels pretty seamless once youre used to it.