Challenges

Challenges are a feature of the game in which you can earn Dark Matter and Stars based on how much progress you can make from the start within 24 hours. You get 1 star for reaching $1m net worth, and another star for every power of 10 greater after that (e.g. $10m for 2 stars, $100m for 3 stars, etc). Upon challenge completion, stars will be randomly awarded to unlocked ores, items, and alloys, giving them a 20% bonus.

Because of the time-critical aspect of challenges, it is a good idea to save free boosts from rovers so they can be used to get ahead in a challenge.

Another nice trick is to get an achievement worth cash in the previous run, but wait to claim the reward until the start of your challenge run, allowing you to rocket past the beginning phases of the game with the additional starting cash.

You must wait 3 days to start another challenge after completing one.