What Ad Astra works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | Fabric, Forge, NeoForge |
| Minecraft versions | 1.18.2, 1.19.2, 1.19.3, 1.19.4, 1.20, 1.20.1, 1.20.4, 1.21.1 |
| Environment | Client, Server |
Ad Astra is a Fabric, Forge, and NeoForge mod that adds a full space program to Minecraft Java: build a rocket, put on an oxygen-fed space suit, and fly to the Moon, Mars, Venus, Mercury, or Glacio. It needs to run on both the client and the server, and it will not load without several other terrarium-earth library mods installed alongside it. Fabric and NeoForge track the newest Minecraft releases; Forge is a version behind and stuck there.
What Ad Astra adds to Minecraft
Five celestial bodies span two solar systems, each with its own gravity, atmosphere, mobs, and building materials: the Moon, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Glacio. Getting there means climbing through four rocket tiers, plus a rover for covering ground once you land. Oxygen has to be generated and piped to a sealed base or a suit's tank before a planet's atmosphere kills you, so the mod adds fuel refining, water pumping, cabling, fluid pipes, and a dedicated rocket workbench alongside the usual processing machines and generators. Over 250 building blocks, from planet-specific bricks to space station plating, cover the construction side, and an in-game guidebook walks through the early progression.
Required dependencies
Every loader build needs Resourceful Lib and Resourceful Config, two shared utility mods from the same terrarium-earth ecosystem. Fabric additionally requires Fabric API, which Forge and NeoForge don't need since those loaders cover the same hooks internally. Fabric and NeoForge also require Common Storage Lib for item and fluid transfer, while Forge uses Botarium for that same role instead, so the two are not interchangeable across loaders. Three more mods, Athena, Odyssey Claims, and Odyssey Allies, are optional and only add extra compatibility or claim-plugin support.
Supported loaders and versions
- Fabric: reaches Minecraft 1.21.1 as of build 1.16.26, released 13 September 2026
- NeoForge: reaches Minecraft 1.21.1 as of build 1.16.26, released 13 September 2026
- Forge: stops at Minecraft 1.20.1 as of build 1.15.21, released 7 September 2026
- Client and server: required on both sides for multiplayer
Known limitations
Reaching another planet is a real climb, not a quick unlock: four rocket tiers, an oxygen supply chain, and a processing-machine setup all have to be built before the first launch, so Ad Astra plays more like a tech mod's early game than a one-block teleport to space. Forge players are capped at Minecraft 1.20.1 while Fabric and NeoForge keep moving, so a Forge modpack built around this mod will not follow the latest Minecraft release. The mod is source-available rather than open for reuse: its textures, models, and other non-code assets stay all rights reserved under the Terrarium License, so reposting the assets or building a fork around them needs separate permission from the source code's MIT terms.
Ad Astra full mod showcase covering rockets, the Moon, space stations, and more
Questions about Ad Astra.
5 questions
What does the Ad Astra mod add to Minecraft?
Ad Astra adds a space program: rockets, oxygen-fed space suits, a rover, and five explorable celestial bodies (the Moon, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Glacio) each with their own gravity, atmosphere, and materials. It also adds processing machines, oxygen and fuel systems, and over 250 building blocks for space stations and planetary bases.
Does Ad Astra work with Forge on the newest Minecraft version?
No. Forge support stops at Minecraft 1.20.1, build 1.15.21, published 7 September 2026. Fabric and NeoForge both reached 1.21.1 with build 1.16.26 on 13 September 2026, so a Forge server or client that needs a newer Minecraft version has to switch loaders to keep using Ad Astra.
What mods does Ad Astra require to run?
Every loader needs Resourceful Lib and Resourceful Config. Fabric also needs Fabric API and Common Storage Lib; NeoForge needs Common Storage Lib too, but Forge uses Botarium in its place. Missing a required dependency stops Ad Astra from loading rather than just disabling part of it.
Is Ad Astra compatible with OptiFine?
No. Ad Astra is not compatible with OptiFine. Players who want shaders or performance mods alongside Ad Astra should use Sodium and Iris on Fabric or NeoForge instead, since those don't conflict with the mod the way OptiFine does.
Which planets can you visit in Ad Astra?
Five: the Moon, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Glacio, spread across two solar systems. Each has distinct gravity, atmosphere, native mobs, and unique materials, and reaching the further ones requires building higher rocket tiers than the first Moon launch needs.
