Ship Recommendation for New Players
As a member of Zeta squadron you will be able to easily afford any small ship and outfit it. You can try any small ship without worrying about the cost.I advise you not to buy a high end ship until you are a skilled pilot.
A few ships stand out.
Small
The Viper Mark III - One of the best ships to learn combat, able to outfly almost every other ship. Can do planetary survey and exobiology but has a poor jump range.
Diamondback Explorer - One of the best ships for exploration and xenobiology with amazing jump range whilst still being agile and having good firepower. Some players with years of experience and billions of credits still use this ship.
Vulture - The meanest small combat ship. Unlike the Viper it's highly strung and has power problems and will require a bit of experience to outfit correctly. Slower than the Viper but more agile with potentially twice the firepower.
Medium
Asp Explorer - The best general purpose ship, can be outfitted for any purpose. In combat it has comparable firepower to a Vulture and it's faster but less agile and presents a larger target. For exploration it is comparable to the Diamondback Explorer whilst carrying more equipment. It can also carry cargo with a capacity similar to Type 6 Transport.
Alliance Chieftain - The best value non endgame combat ship. When you have outgrown your Vulture.
Type 8 Transport - Excellent state of the art cargo ship. Whilst the Type 9 is still the best for bulk hauling, the size 8 is about half the price for about half the capacity. Much easier to fly, superior jump range and the ability to use medium rather than large landing pads. Like all cargo ships it can be outfitted for mining. Could also be used for exobiology and short range exploration. This ship will be available for credits by the end of November.