Mining

Rock fields

A planet with rings has one to three rock fields in them, each about 6 km across. Scanning the planet shows them; pick one in the bodies list and supercruise drops you at its edge.

Each field has 20 ore rocks among plain ones. Round a gas giant the ore is metals or minerals; elsewhere water or minerals. Rocks are solid, so fly with care.

The mining beam

Only the Badger, a mining ship, can mine. Its beam is its only weapon. Hold Fire on an ore rock and in about 12 seconds a chunk of ore breaks free and drifts to your ship; within 150 m it’s taken into your hold. Better lasers cut faster, and so does a Prospector in your crew.

A rock you’ve mined out fills again after six hours.

Sell the ore at a station’s market like any other good.