Fortnite Ancient Astronaut secret challenges: Ancient ship part locations and how to launch the Ancient Ship explained
Somebody's crash landed on the island...
The Ancient Astronaut challenges are a set of secret challenges that can be found in Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 3 based around the crashed Ancient Ship.
Like the Coral Buddies quest, this set of challenges does not appear in the Challenge section of the battle pass, so it's up to you to track these challenges down and complete them.
Completing all of the Ancient Astronaut secret challenges will earn you a total of 54,000 XP, which is great if you're aiming for a particular Season 3 battle pass skin.
Note this particular challenge is no longer able to be completed. What's new? Chapter 4 Season 2 has arrived! New additions include the Grind Rails and Kinetic Blades, along with the new Battle Pass, character collection and Eren Jaeger skin. It's a good idea to know how to get XP fast in Fortnite.
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Ancient Astronaut secret challenges in Fortnite explained
The Ancient Astronaut challenges are a series of secret challenges for you to complete in Fortnite, which means that, while you are rewarded for completing them, these challenges can't be found in the Challenge section of the battle pass.
These secret challenges are based around the mysterious Ancient Ship that appears to have crashed landed near Craggy Cliff and could possibly belong to Siona, who is also one of the skins you can unlock while completing the Season 3 battle pass.
The Ancient Astronaut secret challenge not only hints at a continuation of the Fortnite storyline, but also provides you with a 54,000 XP, which will help you climb the battle pass ranks and unlock that Siona skin.
Ancient Ship location in Fortnite
If you want to complete the Ancient Astronaut secret challenges in Fortnite, then you first have to find the Ancient Ship.
The Ancient Ship is located in E1, which is at the very top of the Fortnite map and north-east of Craggy Cliffs.
To find the Ancient Ship, you'll want to land on the beach and then head out to the small sand dune that is disconnected from the shore. The Ancient Ship sits in the middle of this dune.
Due to this location being at the very top of the map, we highly recommend ensuring that you complete the Ancient Astronaut challenges as early on into the match as possible and, to achieve this, choose a match where the battle bus passes the area containing the Ancient Ship as early as possible.
Ancient Ship parts locations: Where to find the battery pack, heat shield and thruster in Fortnite
Upon reaching the Ancient Ship in Fortnite, you'll be tasked with finding and then installing its missing parts.
There are three to find in total - the battery pack, heat shield and thruster.
Here's a map showing the location of each Ancient Ship part: one refers to the battery pack, two the heat shield and three the thruster.
Below you can learn how to find each Ancient Ship part in more detail.
Battery Pack
The battery pack is actually quite close to the Ancient Ship.
To find the battery pack, head directly east of the Ancient Ship to the small patch of water that lies between the protruding arms of the sand due and contains a large stone.
Destroy the stone in this pool of water and you'll be able to find the battery pack hidden where it once stood.
Heat Shield
The heat shield is located on the beach directly to the east of the Ancient Ship.
Swim over to this beach and you'll find yourself standing near three large rocks that are placed at different points on the hill that takes you off the beach.
Destroy the rock at the bottom of this hill and you'll discover the heat shield where it once stood.
If another player has already destroyed the rock, you'll simply be able to find the heat shield sticking out of the sand.
Thruster
The missing thruster has become stuck in the cliff that lies south of the Ancient Ship. If you look up at the cliff, you should be able to see the green glow that it's emitting.
You'll need to build multiple stairs and platforms to reach it, so take some time to gather materials from the surrounding stones before you begin your ascent.
Once you have enough materials, climb your staircase and collect the thruster from the top of the cliff.
Finding all three of the missing Ancient Ship parts will reward you 14,000 XP.
How to install the Ancient Ship part in Fortnite
After you've collected all of the missing Ancient Ship parts in Fortnite, it's time to return them to the Ancient Ship.
This is easily done by finding where the part will fit on the Ancient Ship and then attaching it when prompted.
The heat shield needs to be placed above the right-hand wing of the Ancient Ship.
After you've installed that part, jump atop the right-hand wing of the Ancient Ship and place the battery pack directly above the heat shield.
Finally, jump off the wing, and you'll discover that this is where you need to place the thruster.
Installing all the Ancient Ship parts will reward you with 14,000 XP.
Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1 is here! It brings a free Lego Insider skin and redemption codes with it, along with a new Victory Umbrella. We've also got pages on new features like Medallions, Weapon Mods, and how to complete a Train Heist. Meanwhile, learn what the best weapons are in the current season, how to get XP fast, and what the best PC settings are to help earn a Victory Crown.
How to launch the Ancient Ship in Fortnite
Now that you've fixed the Ancient Ship in Fortnite, it's time to launch it!
The first step to completing this is very simple - all you have to do is complete the action when prompted.
Once you've done this a Challenge Event will begin and you'll have 60 seconds to protect the Ancient Ship from other players who can cancel the countdown.
If you manage to protect the Ancient Ship until the countdown finishes, it will launch and you'll be rewarded with 25,000 XP.
A number of rifts that look very similar to the ones from Chapter 1 Season 10 will also appear around the sand dune where the Ancient Ship once sat. Interesting...
Theorising aside, you can use these rifts to get back into the air and glide away towards the circle and away from the oncoming storm.
If you want to learn more about this season of Fortnite, check out our Season 3 battle pass skin page and other challenges, including finding Balls of Yarn at Catty Corner, Deadpool's floaties and completing the Coral Buddies secret questline.