This is exactly what I needed, or better said - wanted. I'm returning from a 5+ month expedition having scanned more then 6000 systems. Still have 24k ly to go, will be back just in time to hand the data in, if I'm lucky and don't explode or something.
OP: You get the usual reward for ELP and such, but surface scans are not needed or specially rewarded for the CG, just the ping.