diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9359cf1..927e9ad 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ python3 -m http.server 8080
   population, and an `owner` seam reserved for the factions/pirates to come.
   The current system's dossier (name, identity, what's there) shows
   top-left in the game scene.
-- Game screen with a basic top-down ship: **click anywhere to fly there**
+- Game screen with a top-down ship (real spritesheet art — frame 0 of
+  `assets/images/ships-player.png`, see `data/ship.json`): **click anywhere to fly there**
   in the current system's open space (system boundaries/jumps come next).
   Discovered worlds get a screen-edge arrow + name tag; **clicking the
   name tag autopilots the ship there** (it arrives on the keep-out rim,
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ orbit/
 │   ├── builds.json         #   BUILDING: credits + minerals, ship/planet/station upgrades
 │   ├── actionbar.json      #   the command deck: 6 slots (Research, Build, Ship, ·, ·, Menu)
 │   └── naming.json         #   syllable pools for names
-├── assets/images/          # art: planets.png (1024×1024 spritesheet frames)
+├── assets/images/          # art: planets.png (1024×1024 frames), ships-player.png (256×256 frames)
 ├── assets/fonts/           # UI typefaces: Ethnocentric (headers), Centauri (body)
 ├── lib/                    # vendored third-party libs (Phaser 4.2.1)
 ├── js/
diff --git a/assets/images/originals/base-ship-landed-terran.png b/assets/images/originals/base-ship-landed-terran.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c02c46d
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/images/originals/base-ship-landed-terran.png differ
diff --git a/assets/images/ships-player.png b/assets/images/ships-player.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6f5cad0
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/images/ships-player.png differ
diff --git a/assets/images/ships-player.psd b/assets/images/ships-player.psd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..194a68a
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/images/ships-player.psd differ
diff --git a/assets/videos/terran-land-01.mp4 b/assets/videos/terran-land-01.mp4
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bbe1b5c
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/videos/terran-land-01.mp4 differ
diff --git a/data/ship.json b/data/ship.json
index 3171bad..f7aedde 100644
--- a/data/ship.json
+++ b/data/ship.json
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
 {
+  "_art": "texture/frameWidth/frameHeight/frame = the spritesheet (frame 0 = the starter ship, 256×256 frames; the ship is drawn centered in its frame and rotates about that center). artFacing = the direction the art points in its frame — the code applies a constant render offset so heading math stays identical. If the sheet is missing, the built-in procedural dart is drawn instead (it faces east). size = hull length in world px (also its collision 'diameter'); scale multiplies it (1 = as designed).",
+  "texture": "assets/images/ships-player.png",
+  "frameWidth": 256,
+  "frameHeight": 256,
+  "frame": 0,
+  "artFacing": "north",
   "size": 46,
   "color": "#dfe7ff",
   "cockpitColor": "#41c7ff",
diff --git a/dev/ship-behavior.test.mjs b/dev/ship-behavior.test.mjs
index c6d5b7e..50f7bcf 100644
--- a/dev/ship-behavior.test.mjs
+++ b/dev/ship-behavior.test.mjs
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@
  * loop from js/entities/Ship.js, then asserts the flight feel:
  * arrives and stops, respects maxSpeed, tracks its heading, stops facing
  * the direction it was traveling, can be re-targeted mid-flight, coasts
- * to rest, hard-brakes on stop().
+ * to rest, hard-brakes on stop(). Heading assertions account for the
+ * ship's art render offset (ship.artOffset — data/ship.json → artFacing),
+ * which is a presentation concern, not flight behavior.
  *
  * The harness integrates acceleration→velocity→position the way the
  * Arcade physics world does (after the scene's update).
@@ -131,11 +133,12 @@ const integrate = (ship) => {
 // --- Test 2: heading tracks the direction of travel -------------------------
 {
   const ship = new Ship(scene, 200, 200);
-  ship.rotation = 2.5; // start facing the wrong way
+  ship.rotation = 2.5 + (ship.artOffset || 0); // start facing the wrong way (heading space)
   ship.setTarget(600, 200); // fly straight right
   for (let t = 0; t < 60; t++) { ship.update(t * dt, dt); integrate(ship); }
-  let hd = wrap(ship.rotation); if (hd > Math.PI) hd -= TAU;
-  check(`rotates toward direction of travel (rotation=${ship.rotation.toFixed(3)} rad, want ~0)`,
+  const hd0 = wrap(ship.rotation - (ship.artOffset || 0));
+  let hd = hd0 > Math.PI ? hd0 - TAU : hd0;
+  check(`rotates toward direction of travel (heading=${hd.toFixed(3)} rad, want ~0)`,
         Math.abs(hd) < 0.3);
 }
 
@@ -192,8 +195,8 @@ const integrate = (ship) => {
       if (ship.target === null) break;
     }
     const want = Math.atan2(target.y - 100, target.x - 100);
-    check(`straight trip: stops facing direction of travel (rot=${ship.rotation.toFixed(3)} rad, want ${want.toFixed(3)})`,
-          ship.target === null && angDiff(ship.rotation, want) < 0.25);
+    check(`straight trip: stops facing direction of travel (heading=${wrap(ship.rotation - (ship.artOffset || 0)).toFixed(3)} rad, want ${want.toFixed(3)})`,
+          ship.target === null && angDiff(ship.rotation - (ship.artOffset || 0), want) < 0.25);
   }
 
   // Diagonal trip from rest: must end facing the diagonal it flew.
@@ -207,8 +210,8 @@ const integrate = (ship) => {
       if (ship.target === null) break;
     }
     const want = Math.atan2(target.y - 100, target.x - 100);
-    check(`diagonal trip: stops facing direction of travel (rot=${ship.rotation.toFixed(3)} rad, want ${want.toFixed(3)})`,
-          ship.target === null && angDiff(ship.rotation, want) < 0.25);
+    check(`diagonal trip: stops facing direction of travel (heading=${wrap(ship.rotation - (ship.artOffset || 0)).toFixed(3)} rad, want ${want.toFixed(3)})`,
+          ship.target === null && angDiff(ship.rotation - (ship.artOffset || 0), want) < 0.25);
   }
 
   // Fast ship re-targeted close ahead: still ends facing its travel direction.
@@ -225,8 +228,8 @@ const integrate = (ship) => {
     }
     const want = Math.atan2(target.y - 100, target.x - 100);
     const d = Math.hypot(ship.x - target.x, ship.y - target.y);
-    check(`fast re-target: arrives (dist=${d.toFixed(2)}) facing direction of travel (rot=${ship.rotation.toFixed(3)} rad, want ${want.toFixed(3)})`,
-          ship.target === null && d <= 8.5 && angDiff(ship.rotation, want) < 0.25);
+    check(`fast re-target: arrives (dist=${d.toFixed(2)}) facing direction of travel (heading=${wrap(ship.rotation - (ship.artOffset || 0)).toFixed(3)} rad, want ${want.toFixed(3)})`,
+          ship.target === null && d <= 8.5 && angDiff(ship.rotation - (ship.artOffset || 0), want) < 0.25);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/docs/PROJECT_NOTES.md b/docs/PROJECT_NOTES.md
index 24663dd..7261253 100644
--- a/docs/PROJECT_NOTES.md
+++ b/docs/PROJECT_NOTES.md
@@ -213,6 +213,16 @@ world** — solid, rendered, flyable-to. Rules and seams:
     it whenever the camera has scrolled. (MenuButton never bit by this:
     the menu camera doesn't move.) Set `scrollFactor(0)` on **every** child
     of a screen-fixed UI container — done in `ActionBar.buildSlots`.
+- **Ship art** — the starter ship is now a spritesheet frame:
+  `data/ship.json → texture` (assets/images/ships-player.png, 256×256
+  frames, `frame` 0), mirroring the planets pattern. The frame art faces
+  `artFacing` ("north" — the nose is the frame's top edge; the glass
+  cockpit section is aft, per the art's author); `Ship` applies a
+  constant render offset (`artOffset`) so heading math is identical and
+  the ship rotates about the frame center. Sprite
+  scale = (size×scale)/frameWidth keeps the 46 px world size (and 23 px
+  collision radius) regardless of frame size. Missing/failed sheet →
+  built-in procedural dart (facing east), with a console note.
 - To upgrade: replace the vendored file + note the version here (and re-check
   the quirks above — they may go away).
 
diff --git a/js/entities/Ship.js b/js/entities/Ship.js
index 0127cb6..aeced36 100644
--- a/js/entities/Ship.js
+++ b/js/entities/Ship.js
@@ -5,7 +5,16 @@ import { toColor } from '../utils/Color.js';
 /**
  * The player's ship: an arcade-physics sprite that flies to wherever you click.
  *
+ * Art: the spritesheet in data/ship.json → `texture` (frameWidth×frameHeight
+ * frames; `frame` picks which one — frame 0 is the starter ship). The art in
+ * a frame faces `artFacing` ("north" | "east" | "south" | "west") and the
+ * ship rotates about the frame center, so heading math is unchanged — only
+ * a constant render offset (this.artOffset) is applied. If the sheet isn't
+ * configured or didn't load, the built-in procedural dart is drawn instead
+ * (it faces east, offset 0).
+ *
  * All feel/balance numbers come from data/ship.json:
+ *  - size (world px hull length) & scale (multiplier)
  *  - thrust, maxSpeed, drag      → how it accelerates and coasts
  *  - rotSpeed                    → how fast it turns toward its heading (rad/s)
  *  - brakeDistance               → where it starts easing off the throttle
@@ -14,7 +23,19 @@ import { toColor } from '../utils/Color.js';
 export class Ship extends Phaser.Physics.Arcade.Sprite {
   static TEXTURE_KEY = '__ship';
 
-  /** Draws the ship texture once per game (procedural, no assets). */
+  /** World angle (rad) for each direction the sheet art may face. */
+  static FACING_ANGLE = {
+    north: -Math.PI / 2,
+    east: 0,
+    south: Math.PI / 2,
+    west: Math.PI,
+  };
+
+  /**
+   * Ensure a texture exists under TEXTURE_KEY. If the spritesheet was
+   * loaded (GameScene.preload), it's already there and we do nothing.
+   * Otherwise draw the built-in procedural dart — facing EAST (heading 0).
+   */
   static ensureTexture(scene) {
     if (scene.textures.exists(Ship.TEXTURE_KEY)) return;
 
@@ -41,24 +62,41 @@ export class Ship extends Phaser.Physics.Arcade.Sprite {
   }
 
   constructor(scene, x, y) {
+    // Is the spritesheet present (GameScene.preload queued it when
+    // ship.texture is set)? The dart fallback faces EAST; the sheet art
+    // faces ship.artFacing — the offset below reconciles the two.
+    const hasSheet = scene.textures.exists(Ship.TEXTURE_KEY);
     Ship.ensureTexture(scene);
-    super(scene, x, y, Ship.TEXTURE_KEY);
+    super(scene, x, y, Ship.TEXTURE_KEY, config.get('ship.frame', 0));
 
     scene.add.existing(this);
     scene.physics.add.existing(this);
 
+    // Render offset: sprite rotation = heading + artOffset (0 for the dart).
+    const facing = Ship.FACING_ANGLE[config.get('ship.artFacing', 'east')] ?? 0;
+    this.artOffset = hasSheet ? -facing : 0;
+
     // Tuning (data/ship.json) -----------------------------------------
     this.thrust = config.get('ship.thrust', 900);             // px/s^2
-    this.maxSpeed = config.get('ship.maxSpeed', 480);         // px/s
-    this.drag = config.get('ship.drag', 2.4);                 // 1/s, exponential decay
-    this.rotSpeed = config.get('ship.rotSpeed', 10);          // rad/s
+    this.maxSpeed = config.get('ship.maxSpeed', 480);          // px/s
+    this.drag = config.get('ship.drag', 2.4);                  // 1/s, exponential decay
+    this.rotSpeed = config.get('ship.rotSpeed', 10);           // rad/s
     this.brakeDistance = config.get('ship.brakeDistance', 260); // px
-    this.arriveRadius = config.get('ship.arriveRadius', 8);   // px
-    this.arriveSpeed = config.get('ship.arriveSpeed', 50);    // px/s
-    this.setScale(config.get('ship.scale', 1));
+    this.arriveRadius = config.get('ship.arriveRadius', 8);    // px
+    this.arriveSpeed = config.get('ship.arriveSpeed', 50);     // px/s
+
+    // World size = size × scale. Sheet frames are frameWidth px wide; the
+    // dart is drawn at `size` px — the sprite scale maps either one onto
+    // the same world size, so both look identical.
+    const worldSize = config.get('ship.size', 46) * config.get('ship.scale', 1);
+    const frameWidth = hasSheet
+      ? Math.max(1, config.get('ship.frameWidth', 256))
+      : Math.max(1, config.get('ship.size', 46));
+    this.setScale(worldSize / frameWidth);
+
     // Collision radius (half the hull's width, at scale) — planets keep
     // the ship this far off their rims (see Planet.constrainShip).
-    this.radius = (config.get('ship.size', 46) * config.get('ship.scale', 1)) / 2;
+    this.radius = worldSize / 2;
 
     this.target = null;
   }
@@ -93,7 +131,9 @@ export class Ship extends Phaser.Physics.Arcade.Sprite {
         body.acceleration.set(0, 0);
         // Come to rest facing the direction we were traveling.
         if (speed > 1) {
-          this.rotation = Phaser.Math.Angle.Wrap(Math.atan2(body.velocity.y, body.velocity.x));
+          this.rotation = Phaser.Math.Angle.Wrap(
+            Math.atan2(body.velocity.y, body.velocity.x) + this.artOffset,
+          );
         }
         body.velocity.set(0, 0);
         return;
@@ -124,11 +164,13 @@ export class Ship extends Phaser.Physics.Arcade.Sprite {
 
       // Heading: while the ship has speed it follows its actual direction
       // of motion (so it never flies "backwards" as it brakes); when it
-      // (nearly) stands still it points at the target.
-      const wanted = speed > 10
-        ? Phaser.Math.Angle.Wrap(Math.atan2(body.velocity.y, body.velocity.x))
-        : Phaser.Math.Angle.Wrap(Math.atan2(ny, nx));
-      const current = Phaser.Math.Angle.Wrap(this.rotation);
+      // (nearly) stands still it points at the target. Sprite rotation =
+      // heading + artOffset (the sheet art may not face east).
+      const wanted =
+        (speed > 10
+          ? Phaser.Math.Angle.Wrap(Math.atan2(body.velocity.y, body.velocity.x))
+          : Phaser.Math.Angle.Wrap(Math.atan2(ny, nx))) + this.artOffset;
+      const current = this.rotation;
       const step = Math.min(Math.abs(wanted - current), this.rotSpeed * dt);
       this.rotation = Phaser.Math.Angle.RotateTo(current, wanted, step);
     } else {
diff --git a/js/scenes/GameScene.js b/js/scenes/GameScene.js
index 8ffb6f4..890f4f5 100644
--- a/js/scenes/GameScene.js
+++ b/js/scenes/GameScene.js
@@ -44,6 +44,21 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
         frameHeight: config.get('planets.frameHeight', 1024),
       },
     );
+
+    // The player's ship spritesheet (data/ship.json → texture). If it
+    // isn't configured or the file is missing, Ship falls back to its
+    // built-in procedural dart (a console note says so in create()).
+    const shipTexture = config.get('ship.texture', '');
+    if (shipTexture) {
+      this.load.spritesheet(
+        Ship.TEXTURE_KEY,
+        shipTexture,
+        {
+          frameWidth: config.get('ship.frameWidth', 256),
+          frameHeight: config.get('ship.frameHeight', 256),
+        },
+      );
+    }
   }
 
   create() {
@@ -93,6 +108,11 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
 
     // The ship — a short hop (~150 px, edge-to-edge) from the home world's
     // rim, in a seed-derived direction: same galaxy ⇒ same start.
+    if (config.get('ship.texture', '') && !this.textures.exists(Ship.TEXTURE_KEY)) {
+      console.warn(
+        `[orbit] ship spritesheet "${config.get('ship.texture')}" did not load — using the built-in dart.`,
+      );
+    }
     this.ship = new Ship(this, 0, 0);
     this.ship.setDepth(10);
     const spawn = this.planet.edgePoint(