Basically Just Rocket Science: A Minecraft Expert Modpack That Takes Automation to the Stars
If you love the intricate processing chains of GregTech but wish you could skip the endless microcrafting and grind, Basically Just Rocket Science (BJRS) might be exactly what you’re looking for. This medium-weight expert modpack centers on Advanced Rocketry and challenges you to automate everything in order to fuel your interplanetary ambitions. The journey starts on Earth, but it doesn’t end on Mars — a hidden ancient mystery unfolds across the solar system, leading you toward the event horizon of a black hole.
What Makes BJRS Stand Out?
Unlike many expert packs that bury you in crafting tables, BJRS strips away the tedium while keeping the complexity. It borrows the spirit of GregTech-style production lines — long, multi-step processes that require clever automation — but removes the mod itself and the notorious microcrafting. The result is a pack where your factory grows organically, and every machine you build feels like a meaningful step toward your next rocket launch.
The pack is designed around a clear progression: start with basic resource gathering, build up your industrial base, and then pour your resources into Advanced Rocketry to leave the planet. You’ll need to automate mining, processing, and even fluid management to keep your rockets fueled. The challenge isn’t about grinding for rare drops; it’s about designing efficient systems that can handle the demand.
From Earth to Mars and Beyond
Advanced Rocketry is the heart of BJRS, giving you the tools to construct custom rockets, launch pads, and space stations. Your first major goal is reaching Mars, but the pack’s plot spoiler is that Mars is just the beginning. Once you touch down on the red planet, an ancient mystery begins to unravel. Strange structures and clues push you to explore further, eventually taking you across the entire solar system. The ultimate objective is to pierce the event horizon of a black hole — a feat that demands mastery of every automation trick you’ve learned.
Space travel in BJRS isn’t just a one-and-done trip. You’ll need to set up interplanetary logistics, transport resources between planets, and perhaps even build orbital stations. Each new celestial body introduces unique environmental hazards and resource types, forcing you to adapt your designs. The sense of scale is impressive, and the pack rewards players who enjoy long-term engineering projects.
Custom Structures and a Hidden Dimension
Exploration is a key part of the experience. BJRS includes seven custom structures scattered across the world and beyond, each holding secrets or valuable loot that can accelerate your progress. But the real prize is a custom dimension tied to the black hole mystery. Without spoiling too much, reaching this dimension requires solving puzzles and gathering rare components from across the solar system. It’s a fitting climax for a pack that blends automation with adventure.
The custom structures aren’t just decorative; they often contain unique machines or resources that you can’t craft yourself, encouraging you to venture out from your factory. This balance between building and exploring keeps the gameplay fresh, even when you’re deep into the mid-game grind.
Automation Challenges and Expert Gameplay
BJRS proudly calls itself an expert pack, but it’s not the kind that throws absurd resource costs at you. Instead, it asks you to think like an engineer. Processing chains often involve multiple steps with byproducts that must be managed. For example, refining ores might produce secondary materials that need to be recycled or stored, and failing to handle them can jam your entire production line. This creates a puzzle-like satisfaction when you finally get a system running smoothly.
Some of the key automation hurdles include:
- Managing complex chemical reactions for rocket fuel.
- Setting up item and fluid transport across long distances, especially between dimensions.
- Balancing power generation as your factory expands, with Advanced Rocketry’s machines demanding substantial energy.
- Integrating mods like Applied Energistics or Refined Storage to keep your inventory organized without drowning in chests.
The pack doesn’t hold your hand. You’ll need to consult JEI (Just Enough Items) frequently and plan your layouts carefully. But because microcrafting is minimal, you spend more time building and less time clicking.
Getting Started with BJRS
Installing modpacks can sometimes be a chore, but modern launchers have made the process incredibly smooth. For those who want a hassle-free setup, the foxygame.net launcher offers a flexible and modern way to manage modpacks, letting you download mods right from the menu. It’s a perfect companion for diving into packs like BJRS without wrestling with manual installations. Once you’re in, the pack’s quest book (if included) or your own curiosity will guide you through the early tiers.
Community and Support
BJRS was originally created by a player for themselves and a friend, so updates and bug fixes aren’t rolled out on a strict schedule. That said, the pack is stable and fully playable. If you encounter a game-crashing issue or want to share your own automation setups, you can join the community Discord at discord.gg/dSnCK5MpQc. The creator welcomes bug reports and suggestions, though you shouldn’t expect rapid-fire patches. This laid-back development approach gives the pack a “finished” feel, letting you enjoy the content without worrying about constant changes.
Why You Should Try Basically Just Rocket Science
BJRS fills a unique niche for players who crave the depth of GregTech-style automation but are tired of the grind. It delivers a tightly focused experience around Advanced Rocketry, with a narrative twist that elevates it beyond a simple tech pack. The custom dimension and structures add an element of discovery, while the automation puzzles will keep your brain engaged for dozens of hours. Whether you’re a veteran of expert packs or someone looking to step up from kitchen-sink modpacks, BJRS offers a challenging yet fair journey from a humble workshop to the edge of a black hole. Fuel your rockets, automate everything, and uncover the ancient secret waiting among the stars.