Exploration & Discovery

Venturing into the vast unknown of the galaxy is a core experience in Elite Dangerous, offering immense rewards for those who brave the void. To effectively explore, equip your ship with a Discovery Scanner (also known as the Advanced Discovery Scanner or ADS) and a Detailed Surface Scanner (DSS). The ADS is used to detect all celestial bodies within a system when you first arrive. Once you have a general overview, you can then use the DSS to conduct detailed scans of planets and moons. This process involves launching probes that map the surface, revealing geological features, biological sals, and valuable resources. For each celestial body you discover and map, you will earn credits, with the value of your data increasing exponentially the further you travel from the populated 'bubble' of human space. Discovering Earth-like worlds, Water worlds, or Ammonia worlds can be particularly lucrative. The journey itself is often as rewarding as the destination, with opportunities to witness breathtaking cosmic phenomena and chart previously unknown systems. The further you are from Sol, the more valuable your exploration data becomes, making long-range expeditions a cornerstone of high-earning exploration careers.