AezarHi all,
New to the game. Is there a way to increase explorer rank in the starting area, Pilots' Federation?
You can venture out of the new pilot's area > 20 ly to explore, and return to the new pilot's area to turn it in. Keep in mind that LANDING outside of the new pilot zone will cause the starting area to be off limits. So, make sure you pack a fuel scoop and anything else you might need to be self-sufficient. Also, I'm not sure what happens if you die & respawn at a local (outside new pilot area) station.
I would encourage you to not stay in the starter area longer than needed. Better ships, modules, missions, etc. await you in the rest of the game, plus it's a lot more fun out here (gestures broadly). Why do you want to gain rank but stay in the starting area?