PythonExploration

The Python is best known as a medium do-everything hull, and exploration is one of the things it does. Strip the guns, fit a maxed FSD and a class-6 scoop, and it carries a full expedition with redundancy to spare: multiple AFMUs, a big SRV bay, a scanner and comforts, all behind a medium pad that resupplies at the vast majority of stations — a flexibility the large-pad capitals can't match.

What holds it back is range. A heavy 350-tonne hull on a class-5 FSD jumps only ~45 LY engineered — far short of the dedicated explorers, several of which clear 70–85 LY from cheaper, lighter frames. The Python explores comfortably and self-sufficiently; it just doesn't go far per jump. It earns its rating as a versatile hull that can explore well, not as a ship you'd choose to reach the rim quickly.

Three things make the Python a workable explorer — and one keeps it mid-table:

• Deep internals. Ten optionals carry a class-6 scoop, two or three AFMUs, a big SRV bay, scanner and comforts at once, with redundancy.
• Medium-pad resupply. It lands at most stations and on carriers — far more flexible than the large-pad capital explorers for restocking.
• No rank gate. Anyone with the credits can fly one, and the same hull re-roles back to combat, trade or mining when the trip's over.
• Modest range. A heavy hull on a class-5 FSD caps it at ~45 LY engineered — the dedicated explorers jump far further from lighter frames.

Role-leading internals, a Class 6 scoop and medium-pad versatility carry it, but a ~45 LY engineered range from a heavy 350 t hull caps it at 75.

The 75/100 headline is a verdict against the exploration role's priority-ordered factors. Each factor carries a weight (its share of 100); this hull earns part of each based on how it performs against the whole field. The points sum to the rating.

Both tables rate ships for exploration specifically. The role column is the maximum engineered jump range in light-years — the headline number for deep-space travel.

Same class — medium explorers

Every other medium explorer out-ranges the Python, and the gap is large — the Phantom and Mandalay jump 30–40 LY further from lighter hulls. The Python's deeper internals and toughness barely offset that for pure exploration. Among mediums it's the heavy generalist, not the traveller.

Other classes — capitals and small explorers

The capital Anaconda out-ranges and out-carries it; the small explorers out-jump it from a fraction of the price and land anywhere. The Python's only edge over the small hulls is sheer carrying capacity and redundancy — useful for long, equipped stays, but not enough to lift it above the dedicated designs for travel.

At ~55.3M Cr the Python is a mid-tier purchase with no rank gate. A full exploration fit brings the all-in figure to around 85M Cr — more than a dedicated medium explorer like the Asp or Phantom that would also go further.

The cost only makes sense if the Python is already your ship. Its versatility spreads the investment: the same engineered hull is your warship, trader and miner, and re-roling it to explore costs only a set of swap modules rather than a whole new ship.

An equipped expedition fit that trades outright range for deep self-sufficiency. Initial is buy-only — the hull stripped to a maxed FSD and the biggest scoop; A-Rated is the expedition baseline; Engineered claws every light-year out of a heavy 350-tonne frame while carrying full kit and redundancy. Hardpoints run clean — no weapons fitted.

Buy the hull and strip the weapons — the hardpoints stay clean. The buy-only fit adds just the class-6 fuel scoop and a single heat-sink launcher; refuelling and a heat dump are the only outfitting at purchase.

Bulkheads stay stock Lightweight Alloy — the lightest armour the hull ships with and exactly what an explorer wants; there's nothing to buy there and nothing to upsize later. The cores stay stock E-rate, and every optional internal is left empty — no Guardian FSD booster, SRV bay, AFMUs, landing shield, surface scanner, spare fuel or cargo yet.

That keeps the hull flyable and self-refuelling for the lowest spend; range, redundancy and survey kit all come with the A-rate pass that follows.

A-rating priority for the Python as an explorer:

• 1FSD → 5A — Range is everything and the Python starts short; A-rate the drive first. ~8M Cr
• 2Fuel Scoop → 6A — The biggest scoop it takes refuels quickly. ~10M Cr
• 3Guardian FSD Booster 5 — The largest flat range bonus available — vital on a short jumper. material cost
• 4Single SRV bay + AFMUs (5A + 4B) — Surface access and redundancy for long trips; a 2G single-bay hangar gives full SRV access at a fraction of the mass of a multi-bay unit. ~8M Cr
• 5Detailed Surface Scanner (1I) — Maps planets for cartographic payouts. ~250k Cr
• 6Landing shield — 5C Bi-Weave + Shield Booster — Light protection for hard touchdowns and the odd scrape. minor cost

The standard exploration engineering pattern, focused on clawing range out of a heavy hull. Felicity Farseer (maxed) carries the FSD; Professor Palin handles the thrusters. Pin blueprints for remote G1→G5 application.

Recommended order

• 1FSD Increased Range to G5 with Mass Manager — the single biggest lever on a short-ranged hull.
• 2Lightweight life support and sensors to shed mass from the 350-tonne frame.
• 3Low-Emissions plant to keep heat down when scooping.
• 4Clean Drive Tuning thrusters for efficient, cool travel.

Approximate progression across the three states (figures are representative, not exact rolls):

Engineered, the Python jumps ~45 LY while carrying a full, redundant expedition — a single-bay SRV hangar, twin AFMUs, scanner and landing shield — on a medium pad, and the same hull re-roles to fighting, hauling or mining. Right-sizing the hangar to one SRV bay keeps dead weight off without losing surface access; even so the range stays modest, and that's the ceiling. For self-sufficient regional exploration in a ship you already own it's a solid choice, which is exactly what its 75 reflects.

• FSD, class-6 scoop and the Guardian booster first — squeeze every light-year out of a heavy hull.
• Lighten everything you can: D-rate non-essentials, fit lightweight life support and sensors.
• The medium pad is the real advantage over the capitals — use it for flexible resupply.
• It's a versatile hull that explores, not a dedicated explorer — it has combat, trading, mining and multipurpose manuals too.