I still remember my first 10 hours in No Man’s Sky, running around aimlessly on a toxic planet, wondering why I couldn’t build anything cooler than a tiny wooden shelter that barely kept the rain out. I had all the ferrite dust and carbon I could carry, but I was missing one critical resource: salvage data. If you’re stuck wondering how do you get salvage data in No Man’s Sky, you’re in the right place. This guide is built from 200+ hours of play across normal, survival, and permadeath modes, so every tip has been tested in real game conditions to work no matter what stage of play you’re at. You won’t find any glitch exploits or outdated info here, just straightforward methods that work for every platform and game mode.
Core Methods to Get Salvage Data in No Man’s Sky
There are four reliable ways to collect salvage data, each suited for different stages of the game and playstyles. You can mix and match these depending on how much time you have and what resources you already have access to:
- Searching buried technology modules: This is the most accessible method for new players. You can spot these modules using your analysis visor, which marks them with a small, distinct tech icon. Dig them up with your terrain manipulator, and each will give you 1 to 2 pieces of salvage data. You can find these modules on every planet in the game, no matter the biome or hazard level.
- Completing derelict freighter runs: For mid to late-game players, derelict freighters are one of the most efficient sources of salvage data. You’ll find dozens of salvage data pieces in storage crates scattered across the freighter, alongside other high-value rewards like freighter upgrades and nanites. You’ll need a freighter emergency broadcast receiver to get coordinates for a derelict, which you can get from NPCs at space stations.
- Trading with NPCs and at space stations: If you’re in a hurry and have extra units to burn, you can sometimes buy salvage data from tech merchants in space stations or at planetary settlements. It usually costs around 15,000 units per piece, so it’s not the most cost-effective option, but it works if you need a few extra pieces to finish unlocking a specific blueprint.
- Opening glowing reward crates on uncharted planets: Uncharted or abandoned planets have far higher concentrations of buried tech modules and random reward crates that drop salvage data. Most of these planets also have low or no sentinel activity, so you can farm without being interrupted by hostile drones.
If you’re new to the game, starting with buried technology modules is the simplest way to answer how do you get salvage data in No Man’s Sky without spending any units or risking dangerous combat. Most starter planets have dozens of these modules scattered across the surface, so you can collect 10-15 pieces in less than 30 minutes on your first day of play. For mid-game players, derelict freighter runs are a great option because you get salvage data alongside other high-value rewards like freighter upgrades and nanites. Just make sure you have a decent multi-tool and some health upgrades before you board, as derelicts have hostile biological hazards that can take out underprepared players quickly.
Pro Tips to Farm Salvage Data Faster
You don’t have to stick to just one method to farm salvage data fast, but these small tweaks can cut your total farm time in half. First, always keep your terrain manipulator charged with ferrite dust when you head out to farm, there’s nothing worse than finding 3 buried tech modules in a row and running out of charge mid-dig. I always keep a stack of 200 ferrite dust in my exosuit inventory just for this purpose, so I never have to stop farming to mine more. Next, use a signal booster to pin buried tech locations instead of wandering aimlessly, that cuts farm time by 60% in my experience. You can build a signal booster for just 1 metal plating and 50 carbon, so it’s one of the first items you should craft when you land on a new planet you want to farm. If you find a planet with low sentinel activity and a high concentration of buried tech, mark it as a farming spot in your discoveries tab. I have 3 go-to farming planets saved for when I need extra data, and I never have to waste time searching for a good spot again. If you play multiplayer, group farming is even faster: when one person in your group digs up a buried tech module, everyone in the group gets the salvage data, so you can split up to cover huge sections of the planet in a fraction of the time it would take solo.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Collecting Salvage Data
Even experienced players make these mistakes when collecting salvage data, so it’s worth keeping them in mind to avoid wasting your time. The most common mistake new players make is accidentally learning a random blueprint when they open a buried tech module. Never select the "learn blueprint" option when you open a buried tech module unless you specifically want a random low-tier blueprint, you get way more value saving the data to unlock exactly what you want at the construction research terminal. Those random blueprints are almost always for basic items you don’t need, and you’ll end up wasting 1-2 salvage data every time you pick that option. Another big mistake is ignoring weather warnings when you’re out farming. If you’re on a stormy or radioactive planet, don’t push it to get one more module, you can easily lose all your collected data if you die and can’t find your grave before it despawns. Don't forget to empty your inventory of unnecessary items before you head out farming, salvage data takes up one slot per stack of 5, and nothing is more frustrating than having to leave a good farming spot early because you ran out of inventory space. Finally, don’t waste units buying salvage data from NPC merchants unless you really need it right away for a specific build. It usually costs 15k units or more per piece, which adds up fast when you need 50+ pieces to unlock all your base blueprints.
What to Do With Salvage Data Once You Have It
Once you have a stack of salvage data saved up, you have a few different options for how to use it depending on your playstyle. The most common use is unlocking base building blueprints at the construction research terminal, which you can find on your freighter or build at any of your bases. You can unlock everything from large storage units to advanced hydroponic farming equipment to decorative items to make your base feel like home. Most players need between 50 and 100 salvage data to unlock all the core base building blueprints, so it’s worth farming a good stack early on so you don’t have to stop mid-build to go collect more. You can also use small amounts of salvage data to unlock certain exosuit and multi-tool upgrades, though most high-level upgrades use nanites instead. Salvage data is a great bartering item for rare resources with other players in multiplayer lobbies. A lot of veteran players who have all their blueprints unlocked will trade high-value items like storm crystals, activated indium, or S-class upgrades for stacks of salvage data, so it’s a great way to get rare items without having to farm them yourself. If you have extra salvage data left over after unlocking all your blueprints, you can sell it for around 12k units each at space stations. It’s not the most profitable resource in the game, but it’s a nice side income if you have a large surplus from farming runs.
At the end of the day, figuring out how do you get salvage data in No Man’s Sky is one of the first big steps to moving past the early game grind and building the base or fleet of your dreams. You don’t need fancy gear or a high-level character to start farming, just an analysis visor, a charged terrain manipulator, and a little bit of patience. Don’t stress if you only collect a few pieces your first time out, it adds up faster than you think, and every piece brings you one step closer to unlocking exactly what you want in the game. If you have a favorite method we didn’t mention, feel free to drop it in the comments below to help other players out.
