Engineers This is why 5000ly to unlock Palin is bad mechanic

[Schmack]

Everything in the game funnels you to explore the game, to get out of your little niche and move around, do all the functions that the game offers. Developers didn't spend all that time creating things just to put it on the GALnet. They make the goals like a confidence course, explore everything, do everything, and in the process you'll earn whatever you need/want.

The shortcoming, if there is one, is that jump/turn/honk is boring and all systems look basically the same from the star. So explore the systems, maybe you'll find something out there. Heck, take some passengers somewhere and kill two birds with one stone.

 

[Brrokk]

Update: I got back safely from my trip to Cat's Eye, the passenger was happy and among the exploration data I got first discovery of an Earth-like world less than 800ly from my home system in the bubble!

I advice making the most of this one trip, especially if you think it's the only long exploration trip you'll make. (OK, I know there are people who won't consider this "long").