Moon Shot / Astronaut pinball rules and strategy
The Strategy
Moon Shot / Astronaut has two curved rocket lanes whose values rise through top bumpers and nearby white rollover buttons. Hit the safer upper gate target to open that side's swing gate, repeat the curved rocket lane, and let natural passes collect its rollover instead of shooting the dangerous lower target directly.
The goal
Hit the safer upper gate target to open its swing gate, repeat that side's curved rocket lane, let natural white-rollover passes raise its value, and avoid direct lower-target shots.
Plunge so the ball contacts both upper bumpers when the feed allows it.
Read whether the left and right swing gates are open.
If a gate is closed, send the ball up that side toward the safer upper gate target.
Do not shoot the lower gate target directly.
After a gate opens, shoot the curved rocket lane on that side.
Let upward and downward passes collect the related white rollover button naturally.
Repeat the rocket lane while its gate and lower feed remain controlled.
Favor the higher-value rocket when both sides are equally safe.
Alternative route: Safe side feed
Use this plan when a curved rocket lane rejects shots or sends the ball into a dangerous sling exit.
- Stop forcing the unsafe curved lane.
- Send the ball high up the safer side of the playfield.
- Use natural bumper action to reach the upper gate target and rocket area.
- Collect rollover advances only when the ball crosses them through normal flow.
- Return to a rocket-lane repeat after its gate and feed are stable.
Need to know
- Rocket lanes
- The two curved rocket lanes are the main scoring shots, and each lane has its own value.
- Rocket value
- The top bumpers and small lower white rollover buttons raise the related rocket value from 50 to 500.
- Swing gates
- An upper or lower side standup opens the gate on the same side, and an open gate returns the ball toward a flipper.
Moon Shot / Astronaut scores during the ball and has no end-of-ball bonus. Use an upper side target to open a swing gate, repeat that side's curved rocket lane, and let bumper and rollover action raise its value from 50 to 500. Change sides only when the first gate or return stops feeding a flipper safely.
The goal
Hit the safer upper gate target to open its swing gate, repeat that side's curved rocket lane, let natural white-rollover passes raise its value, and avoid direct lower-target shots.
- Plunge so the ball contacts both upper bumpers when the feed allows it.
- Read whether the left and right swing gates are open.
- If a gate is closed, send the ball up that side toward the safer upper gate target.
- Do not shoot the lower gate target directly.
- After a gate opens, shoot the curved rocket lane on that side.
- Let upward and downward passes collect the related white rollover button naturally.
- Repeat the rocket lane while its gate and lower feed remain controlled.
- Favor the higher-value rocket when both sides are equally safe.
Builds toward: Two open gates and 500-point rockets
- Hit an upper swing-gate target to open the gate on that side.
- Advance the related rocket through bumper and rollover action.
- Repeat the curved rocket lane as its value rises.
- Hit the opposite upper gate target and use bumper or rollover action to raise that rocket when the first feed becomes unsafe.
- Repeat the safest 500-point rocket lane.