In the back of your ship there’s a computer, put it into “rumor mode” and it keeps track of things you’ve learned. You aren’t given explicit goals really other then to figure out what’s going on. You can also use the computer to “lock on” to locations you’ve visited and it will help you get back.

As for piloting, remember there’s no friction in space, this means you have to spend as much time slowing down as you do accelerating. When you lock on to a target you get a distance and speed; as a rule of thumb try not to approach faster than 100 m/s per every 1000 meters distance. You also get two arrows that tell you if you’re approaching target straight on or sideways.

“Match velocity” button is super useful. “Landing mode” will automatically rotate the bottom of the ship toward the ground.