Spaceship Guide: Every Type of Moving Pattern in Game of Life
Explore every type of spaceship in Conway's Game of Life, including their speeds, families, and unique characteristics in cellular automata.
Spaceship Guide: Every Type of Moving Pattern in Game of Life
Spaceships are self-sustaining patterns that translate across the grid while maintaining their shape. They're among the most fascinating patterns in Conway's Game of Life.
Speed Classifications
Spaceship speeds are measured as fractions of the speed of light (c), where c = 1 cell per generation.
c/4 (Diagonal): The Glider moves diagonally at this speed, the maximum possible for diagonal movement.
c/2 (Orthogonal): The standard speed for orthogonal spaceships like LWSS, MWSS, and HWSS.
Other Speeds: Slower spaceships include Copperhead (c/10), Loafer (c/7), and Weekender (2c/7).
Spaceship Families
The Standard Fleet:
- Lightweight Spaceship (LWSS): 5×3 cells, period 4
- Middleweight Spaceship (MWSS): 6×3 cells, period 4
- Heavyweight Spaceship (HWSS): 7×3 cells, period 4
Diagonal Spaceships:
- Glider: The classic 5-cell diagonal spaceship
- Big Glider: Larger diagonal spaceship
- Crab: Another small diagonal option
Modern Discoveries:
- Copperhead: First c/10 spaceship
- Loafer: c/7 orthogonal spaceship
- Dragon: c/6 orthogonal spaceship
Spaceship Components
Tagalongs: Additional patterns that can follow spaceships Pushalongs: Patterns pushed in front of spaceships Escorts: Spaceships that stabilize unstable patterns
Engineering Spaceships
Large spaceships can be constructed using:
- Switch engines: The building blocks of Corderships
- Puffer engines: Create debris trails
- Rake technology: Emit other spaceships