Guide to EVA
EVA is an often used phrase that means Extravehicular Activity, which more often than not refers to going out into space, or spacewalking, which typically involves exploring the asteroid that the Aurora is stationed on. EVA may also refer to EVA Storage next to Security.
Space Suits and Equipment
In order to not succumb to vacuum and have your blood boil out of your pores, you must wear protective equipment. Below are the different types of equipment available.
Softsuits
Softsuits are your most basic protective equipment against vacuum and space. They are commonly found in the blue emergency oxygen closets placed around the station. The suit and helmet are separate, but also quite fragile and susceptible to puncturing and tearing, which would render the suit useless against space. They are also clunky, encumbering, and colored very brightly.
Voidsuits
See also: Voidsuits
Voidsuits are much more advanced over softsuits, and provide a slightly better range of options. The only downside is that they must be refit in a suit cycler to fit your species/anatomy if you are not human. Voidsuits, however, contain a suit slot for oxygen tanks so that you don't have to place one on your back, which has the added benefit of letting you wear your backpack. On top of this, voidsuits can also be assembled and compacted down to a single item, which will be covered below. Despite what some may look like, voidsuits are not suits of armor, and can still be damaged beyond optimal operation. Punctures must be repaired with a welder, and scorches require steel sheets.
Assembly
Assembly is done by taking a voidsuit component and clicking on the main suit with it. This will attach it to the suit, and will deploy once the main suit is equipped as long as nothing is in the way, shoes being an exception for magboots. To remove components, use a screwdriver on the suit. Assembly is optional but very much encouraged.
Voidsuit helmet: Occupies helmet slot. Removes the need for an oxygen mask as long as it's worn.
Voidsuit: Occupies exo slot.
Magboots: Occupies shoe slot. Will fit over any shoes you're already wearing.
Oxygen tank: Occupies suit storage slot. Provides breathable oxygen. Can be ejected by right clicking the suit.
OR
Suit cooler: Occupies suit storage slot. Cools the internal atmosphere of the suit for synthetic users. Can be ejected by right clicking the suit.
Hardsuits
See also: Hardsuit Operation
Hardsuits are perhaps the most advanced pieces of EVA equipment supplied by Nanotrasen. They resemble control modules that fit on your back to deploy and manage components and modules at the press of a button. Refitting hardsuits is unnecessary (and impossible) because the hardsuit will conform to a user's anatomy as soon as it deploys. They also contain a detachable oxygen tank, power cell, and bone support. They are much sturdier than voidsuits and may even work as armor, depending on the control module you're wearing. Hardsuits have more utility over voidsuits in that they contain modules that can perform a variety of tasks, depending on the control module you're wearing. The downsides of hardsuits, however, are that they inflict a speed penalty and they are both uncommon and expensive.
Jetpacks
Unless you're using a hardsuit with maneuvering jets, jetpacks are necessary to navigate environments without gravity, otherwise you will drift perpetually unless another force acts on your character, such as throwing or coming into contact with an object. Activating a jetpack will allow you to move around quickly, and activating stabilization (at the cost of more propellant) will allow for more precise movement, as well as keeping you from falling through holes. Jetpacks must be placed on your back to work, and should not be used as internals if the paint on the jetpack is black. If you are not granted the luxury of using a jetpack, a fire extinguisher will work as well.
Suit Cycler
This large stationary machine refits voidsuits to a race's anatomy, particularly ones that are not human. There are different cyclers for different department voidsuits, all locked to prevent other departments from obtaining or impersonating another department's color. As long as you have access, you are able to lock and unlock a suit cycler.
Operation
A small window of options should appear once the cycler is unlocked. Options range from recoloring and refitting suits to sterilizing the voidsuit in UV light. To refit a suit, place the voidsuit and helmet inside the cycler, select the type of suit (which will just change the sprite, the suit will still have the same stats as before), and select your race. Click Begin Customization Routine and wait for around ten seconds until the cycler pings. Remove the voidsuit and helmet and ensure that they fit on your character.
Exiting the Station
Once your have the gear you need, you're ready to exit the station. Most of the time, exiting the station is done by cycling through an airlock, which will depressurize the room you're in momentarily and open to the outside. If the airlock has not been operated before or it is not cycled to your side of it, you must press the button on your side of the door to open it. From there, click the control panel and select Cycle to Exterior. DO NOT click any buttons that will force the doors, otherwise the airlock and the adjacent room will depressurize and you'll probably fly out as a result. It is highly recommended that your activate your internals and magboots before operating the airlock interface in case an accident occurs during the cycling procedure. Once the vents shut off and the opposite door opens, you are free to walk through.
Exploring the Asteroid
The asteroid is nothing short of dark and dusty, maybe with a bit of rocky debris here and there. Oh, and don't forget the holes. Navigating this rock can be dangerous if you aren't paying attention; gravity is always in play, and there's plenty of holes to fall down if you're not careful. In fact, unless you have a jetpack with stabilizers or a hardsuit with leg actuators, falling down a hole will almost certainly guarantee your demise, so watch where you're going and never walk where you can't see. You should also keep a close eye out for schools of carp since they're able to out-maneuver you with ease.
Exploring Space
Space is... well, space. Aesthetically and mechanically. There's no air, no floor, and no gravity. Without a jetpack, you will be forced to use magboots and cling to the exterior of the station to navigate. If you fall out of range of the station wall, you will have to throw something in the direction you are traveling in order to send yourself back. If someone is unconscious in space, they will have to be pulled towards the station. If they are fully conscious but unable to maneuver in space, switching to an intent other than help and bumping into them will move them.
Returning
Returning to the station is about the same as exiting except you're going into the airlock from the other side and maybe also tracking in a ton of asteroid dust from your boots. Simply bring up the interface and click Cycle to Interior and wait for the room to repressurize. In the event that there's not enough air in the supply canisters, allow the room to pressurize as high as it will go before forcing the interior door. While a little dangerous, depending on the size of the airlock and what the atmosphere is, at least you won't be stuck.