Crafting the Control Key and Claiming Your Ship

Craft the key

Make a Control Key at a crafting table using the mod's shaped recipe. You only need one key to operate a vessel, but crafting a spare is useful if you plan to build more than one ship.

Claim the vessel

Place a Ship Controller Assembly on your assembled ship. Hold the Control Key and use it on the Ship Controller Assembly. This binds the vessel to you so you can pilot it. While bound, interacting with the controller lets you steer and operate the ship.

Release and reuse

Use the Control Key on the controller again to release your claim. Releasing is required before another player can take control, and it is also the safe step to take before dismantling a ship with a Disassembly Wrench. If you lose your key, craft a new one — the ship itself is not destroyed by losing the key, but you cannot pilot it until you have a key again. Keep the key on your hotbar while flying so you can release control quickly when you land.