You're driving through the Grand Senora Desert, the radio is blasting some lo-fi indie track, and suddenly you see him. Omega. He’s that paranoid hippie dude standing by a trailer who starts rambling about extraterrestrials and "sub-space" dimensions. Most players just skip the cutscene. Big mistake. This interaction triggers one of the most tedious, rewarding, and flat-out weirdest scavenger hunts in Los Santos: the quest to find GTA 5 all spaceship parts. Honestly, it's a rite of passage. If you haven't spent four hours squinting at a bridge underpass or diving into the murky depths of the Pacific Ocean for a glowing hunk of metal, have you even played GTA 5?
Why the Hunt for GTA 5 All Spaceship Parts is Still a Thing
Let’s be real. Rockstar Games loves making us work for the cool stuff. Finding all 50 pieces isn't just about getting that 100% completion stat, although for the perfectionists out there, that's the primary driver. It’s about the Space Docker. You know, that buggy that looks like it was assembled in a junkyard during an acid trip? It’s got those neon lights and the bizarre, otherworldly engine sounds. It doesn't fly—which is a bit of a letdown—but it’s a trophy. It says you actually took the time to explore the corners of the map that most people only see during a high-speed police chase.
The lore behind the parts is actually kind of grounded in the game's obsession with government conspiracies. Omega claims the parts were scattered after a crash. As Franklin, you’re the one tasked with the cleanup. You’ll find these things in places that make zero sense from a physics standpoint. One is on top of a hospital helipad. Another is tucked inside a drainage pipe in the middle of the city. There’s even one sitting in a cow pen. It’s Rockstar’s way of forcing you to look at the world they built. They put an insane amount of detail into the Los Santos sewage system and the peaks of Mount Josiah, and by god, they’re going to make sure you see it.
The Logistics of the Scavenge
Before you even start, you need to understand the scale. We are talking about 50 individual items spread across the entire state of San Andreas. You can't just stumble upon them. Well, you can, but you’ll likely only find about five or six by accident over a hundred hours of gameplay. They emit a faint, rhythmic humming sound—sorta like a low-frequency vibration—and they glow with a flickering light. This is your best friend. If you’re playing at night in-game, they’re way easier to spot.
Most veterans will tell you to use a Buzzard or the Oppressor (if you're playing the updated versions) but honestly? A Maverick helicopter is usually the way to go for the rooftop ones. Some parts are tucked under the Great Ocean Highway bridges, and if you try to get those with a plane, you’re gonna have a bad time. You’ll die. A lot. Especially the one located on the supports of the bridge over Cassidy Creek. That one is a nightmare. You have to land a chopper on a tiny concrete pillar or parachute down with surgical precision. One wrong move and Franklin is a pancake on the rocks below.
Breaking Down the Map: Where the Parts Actually Are
Los Santos is divided into several zones, and the distribution of GTA 5 all spaceship parts is surprisingly even, though some areas feel much more crowded than others.
The City Grit (Los Santos South and Central)
In the urban sprawl, parts are hidden in architectural niches. There's one in the Los Santos Gas Company—you have to climb a series of ladders that feel like they go on forever. Then there’s the one at the Port of South Los Santos. You actually have to dive underwater for that. It’s near a sunken frame of a structure. If you don't have the Scuba Gear, you better have a high lung capacity stat or you're going to be spamming snacks to stay alive.
The Desert and the Weirdness (Blaine County)
This is where things get spooky. There's a part in the middle of the "Alien Skate Park" (that colorful graffiti area near Sandy Shores). It’s basically sitting out in the open, which feels like a trap, but it isn't. You’ll also find one near the Zancudo River. Pro tip: stay away from the actual Fort Zancudo boundary unless you want a four-star wanted level while you're trying to pick up trash. The part is actually under the bridge, tucked away near the supports.
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The High Ground (Vinewood Hills and Mountains)
Some of the most annoying parts are in the Vinewood Hills. Not because they're hard to see, but because the terrain is so vertical. One is located at the Lake Vinewood intake tower. You have to dive in the water right next to the tower. Another is on the roof of the Galileo Observatory. If you’ve done the main story, you know the spot. Just fly a helicopter up there, hop out, grab it, and keep moving.
Misconceptions and Frustrations
One of the biggest lies on the internet is that you can "miss" these parts. You can't. They don't despawn. You can finish the entire main story, kill off one of the characters (though why would you?), and still go back as Franklin to find them. However, only Franklin can officially trigger the mission with Omega. If you find a part as Michael or Trevor, it still counts toward the 50, but Franklin is the one who has to hand them in.
Another thing people get wrong is the "reward." Don't expect a functional UFO. I’ve seen countless forum posts from 2014 that are still circulating today claiming that if you take the Space Docker to Mount Chiliad at 3 AM during a thunderstorm, it transforms. It doesn't. It’s a custom dune buggy. It looks cool. It’s rare. That’s it. The real reward is the "From Beyond" achievement/trophy and the satisfaction of knowing you cleared the map.
The Most Difficult Parts to Find
If you're going for GTA 5 all spaceship parts, prepare to get frustrated by these specific locations:
- The Paleto Cove Offshore Part: This one is deep. Like, "why am I down here?" deep. It’s near some underwater vegetation. Without a submarine or scuba gear, it’s a suicide mission.
- The Land Act Reservoir: There's a part at the end of a concrete pier, but there's another one hidden in the nearby intake tunnels. It’s dark, it’s cramped, and it’s easy to walk right past it.
- The Calafia Way Bridge: Located in the North side of the Alamo Sea. It’s tucked into a crevice on the cliffside near the bridge. If you’re looking from the road, you’ll never see it. You have to get down into the ravine.
- The Altruist Colony: This is Trevor territory. The part is on a porch inside the gated community of the weird cultists. If you go in there without clearing the area first, they will try to eat you. Literally.
Pro-Strategy: Use the In-Game Internet
Most people forget that Rockstar actually provided a map. If you go to the Rockstar Games Social Club (the real-life website), you can link your account and see a "Checklist" map. It shows you exactly which parts you've picked up and which ones are still out there. This is a lifesaver. There is nothing worse than having 49/50 parts and having no clue which one you missed. You'll end up re-visiting all 50 spots, which is a special kind of hell.
The Final Encounter with Omega
Once you have all 50, a green "?" appears back at Omega's trailer. You go there, a cutscene plays, and he shows you his "project." It’s a tiny, spinning miniature UFO. It’s actually pretty underwhelming until he opens the garage and shows you the Space Docker.
The Docker is a unique vehicle. If you lose it or blow it up, it used to be gone forever in the older versions of the game. Now, you can usually find it in your garage or at the vehicle impound if you're lucky, but treat it with respect. It’s the physical manifestation of hours of your life.
Actionable Steps for Your Hunt
- Get a Chopper First: Don't try to do this in a car. Go to the Los Santos International Airport, hop the fence, and steal a Frogger or a Maverick. Or, if you've got the cash, buy the Buzzard for the landing agility.
- Time it Right: Start your search at dusk in-game. The glow of the parts is much more visible against the dark textures of the hills and alleys.
- Use the Social Club Map: Seriously. Log in, check your progress, and save yourself the "49/50" headache.
- The Chop Method: If you’re playing on the enhanced versions, you can actually use the iFruit app (if it's still behaving) or the in-game mechanics to have Chop the dog help you sniff out nearby collectibles. It’s a bit wonky, but it works in a pinch.
- Save Frequently: After every 5 parts, do a quick save on your phone. If you crash your helicopter and die, you don't want to lose the last three hard-to-reach parts you just grabbed.
Finding GTA 5 all spaceship parts isn't about the destination; it’s about the weird, lonely journey through the fringes of San Andreas. You'll see the sun set over the Alamo Sea and the neon lights of the Del Perro Pier from angles you never would have seen otherwise. It’s a grind, sure. But in a game about chaos and crime, there's something weirdly Zen about the search for stardust.
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Keep your ears open for that hum. It’s closer than you think. Once you grab that 50th piece, head back to Omega. Just don't expect him to give you a ride to Mars.
Next Steps for Completionists
After finishing the spaceship parts, your next logical move is the Letter Scraps. There are also 50 of those, and they solve a gruesome Hollywood-style murder mystery. It's a bit darker than the alien hunt, but it's essential for that 100% trophy. If you’ve already done those, start looking into the Epsilon Program tracts—though fair warning, that one involves a lot of literal walking in the desert.