Surviving Mars
80 Achievements
0-1h
How Much is a Googol?
Reach $100,000 M
9.5%
How to unlock the How Much is a Googol? achievement in Surviving Mars - Definitive Guide
I'd recommend USA to start as it periodically grants you 500 every few sols.
The best way is definitely research for money.
*New Edit* The developers patched in a cost increase for continually researching the Martian Copyrights and Martian Patents. However I still believe them to be a strong starting point for gaining some cash quickly before investing in using Mohole Mine and mineral export below.
I don't know exactly how any of the values below have also been adjusted since this guide first went up. Don't know if the max science output I had is still accurate or possible. *End Edit*
The Martian Patents - $500 for 3000 research is more efficient then the Martian Copyrights - $2000 for 15000 research.
Martian Patents is $2500 for the same 15000 research spent.
You can easily tailor your colony to research, there are diminishing returns on additional Science Institutes and Research Labs. I believe any more than 5 of each becomes a net loss.
3 of each, all fully upgraded, staffed with a mix of scientists and no specs, in a mega dome with a Network Spire, plus the Omega Telescope, will produce about 10000 research total per sol. That's $1500 per sol.
One of my colonies with all wonders and techs produced 20000 at its peak (3 labs + 3 Institutes) due to all the additional character perks, genius colonists, and these two breakthroughs;
Superconducting Computing turns excess power into research at 1:3 (700 excess power = 2100 research).
Zero Space Computing gives another upgrade to Labs and Institutes (25%)
Obviously you can add to this by exporting any excess rare metals. Mohole Mine produces 20 per sol, and you can place multiple extractors on a single deposit. You'll need a steady supply of rockets and fuel unless you have the elevator, which can export 100 rare metals at a time.
There's also an additional breakthrough that allows extractors to function without colonists, but at 50% max output. Which means you don't need a dome at every deposit.
I did this in a long playthrough to get the bulk of miscellaneous trophies and this one of the last ones I got. It took me until near sol 200 to get it so it'll be a slog. However, once you've got a supply of rare metals and the techs that give funding going it goes relatively quickly. Getting to that point is the main challenge.
It sounds hard, but it's mostly a time sink. Set up lots of rare metal extractors (be sure you've deep scanned everything too) and have them run.
Doing the Launch SETI Satellite special project can help too, as does tourism.
A Space Elevator is also key to this since it can export 100 Rare Metals at once (and doesn't have a travel time).
Having a sponsor that pays a lot for Rare Metals would be good too, but isn't required.
Time Saver: Start a new game and pick Blue Sun Corporation as your mission sponsor to nail Building a Better Future at the same time. Otherwise, go for this together with The Rabbit Hole and New Wonders of the World .
The main method of securing additional funds is to export Rare Metals, which are carried by refuelled Rockets heading back to Earth or via the Space Elevator. Each mission sponsor will pay you a specific amount of funds for each unit of Rare Metal exported, which can be checked in the new game menu. Some mission sponsors (USA) will also send you additional funds periodically or for completing objectives but relying on that alone will take a long time. While expanding your colony, you’ll need to strike a balance between exporting Rare Metals and stockpiling some to be processed into Electronics in your Electronics Factories, while continuing to source for new deposits to be mined. Towards the end game however, you can research the Mohole Mine wonder which can be built anywhere and will supply you with an endless supply of Metals and Rare Metals.