Your friend in a HIRES is doing something wrong, it's entirely possible to get over 10 million per session (2 hours or so). Smuggling is even better, credits per hour ratio-wise. I love exploration but it is the slowest way to make money... It is, however, beginner friendly as all the other activities require significant investments to maximise proft, while exploration can be done in a cheap beginner vessel and stil bring in the same amount as if it were done in something more expensive.
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