Research Lab Aether

Research Lab Aether is a room in Phendrana Drifts in Metroid Prime. It is a multi-level laboratory, containing many stasis tanks, panels, computers, crates and Space Pirates; walkways run between levels. At the top of the room, there are many orange Space Pirate panels to scan, and a Pirate Data scan is found at a computer terminal. The middle level, reached through the upper window with a Space Jump, contains crates and computers with another Pirate Data scan.

At the bottom of the room is a rectangle with many stasis tanks and one large one in the centre; the smaller of these can be destroyed with Missiles, and one contains an Energy Tank. There is an elevator to reach the upper levels of the room here, activated by scanning a panel. There are also two alcoves, one containing many computers with another two Pirate Data scans, and the other containing more crates and a door in the floor.

On the first visit, Samus starts at the top, where a Metroid is held in a stasis tank; this is introduced through a cutscene. To continue to the lower levels of the room, release the Metroid with a Missile, then destroy it; afterwards, approaching a far window causes a Space Pirate to jump through it, giving access to the rest of the room.

Once the Thermal Visor has been collected, this room is dark and contains Metroids in stasis tanks on the ground level. Auto Defense Turrets and Shadow Pirates are also present.

Before Thermal Visor

 * 1 Metroid
 * 5 Space Pirates

With Thermal Visor

 * 4 Shadow Pirates
 * 2 Auto Defense Turrets
 * 2 Metroids

Connecting rooms

 * Aether Lab Entryway (Purple Door)
 * Research Core Access (Purple Door)

Items

 * Energy Tank:This is found on the lower floor in one of the stasis tanks. Break it open with a Missile to obtain the tank.
 * Missile Expansion:A Morph Ball path above the lower floor can be reached with a Space Jump from the walkway halfway up the room. Navigating this to its end without falling off yields the expansion.