One of the key aspects of Star Citizen is the use of radar and signatures, which are essential for detecting, identifying, and engaging with other ships and vehicles in the universe. Radar and signatures are two interrelated concepts that determine how visible and detectable a ship or vehicle is to other players. Radar is the system that scans the surrounding area for any objects that emit or reflect electromagnetic waves, such as ships, vehicles, missiles and torpedoes, or stations. Signatures are the characteristics of those objects that affect how they appear on radar, such as their infrared (IR), electromagnetic (EM), and cross-section (CS) emissions.