Sadly yes, we have to make the trip to the nearest station to get a suit, I wasn't overly chuffed either.
This for me raised another question. Like the OP I am way out in the black, and in all liklihood motivated to get the new suit to add a new dimension to my exploration. In fact I have been away from the bubble for over a year. Don't get me wrong I really enjoying (read - love) being light years away from anywhere. On the legs release I decided I just had to swallow it and had to make the three day journey back to the bubble just for the Artemis suit so I might enjoy some deep space exobiology hunting and explore this new, and seemingly additional, aspect to exploration. So off I trot and make the hike back (no biggy - just more data and cash in the FC upkeep bank) to get my shiny new surface exploration suit. But, and this for me is a very big but, it seems like this little detour was a fools errand as once I return I discover that whilst I can collect the exo data from anywhere, I can only sell it at a station. For me in my happy little pocket of space this means a minumum six day round trip just to sell exo data???? For others most likely a lot more (such as the OP). As a casual player who really enjoys exploration mainly, this left a rather sour taste.
So, am I alone in thinking that this is counterintuitive to the way the exploration works in ED? Currently I explore a little pocket out in the black, periodically return to my FC, sell the data. Rinse and repeat. The FC has been great for this and supports a pattern of play that provides endless fun in the hunt for something new. It was my assumption (stupidly) that I could include exobiology data collection with my routine exploration data and sell them both concurrently at universal carto. Or at least have the option to.
I guess (and this is where I might well be (happily) corrected) I just do not see the point of introducing a seemingly restrictive practice in an otherwise restriction-less activity. If we do want to include exo as part of our exploration then the distance we travel whilst exploring is somewhat governed by how readily we can sell that data. Losing data is a concern out in the black, that's why I think the inclusion of universal carto in the FC was a positive step for exploration. But this, well I just need help understanding why this has been implemented the way it has.
Fly safe o7
