Discovery Scanner, FSS & DSS

System Honk, Signal Resolve & Surface Mapping

Survey Profile

Signal Summary

Exploration is a sequence of increasingly detailed scans. The Discovery Scanner establishes that bodies exist, the Full Spectrum System Scanner resolves them remotely, and the Detailed Surface Scanner maps selected worlds at close range.

For ED:CS, those steps map neatly onto data depth: a system can be known, its bodies can be identified, and high-value targets can be prioritised for detailed mapping.

DiscoveryFSSDSS

Key Concepts

Discovery Scanner - Reveals system signals and gives the commander an initial body count.

FSS - Resolves body identity, orbital context, composition, and notable signals without flying to each body.

DSS - Uses probes to surface-map a body for mapping credit, biological leads, and higher exploration value.

Triage - Explorers decide which bodies deserve close-range mapping based on value, rarity, distance, and goals.

Field Notes

A quick honk is useful, but the money and tags usually come from resolving and selling more complete data.

The FSS is the fastest way to decide whether a system has high-value worlds worth a detour.

DSS mapping is most valuable when used selectively: map the worlds that justify the approach time.

Reference

Signal	Value	Use
First pass	Discovery Scanner	Reveals the system signal set.
Remote resolve	FSS	Identifies bodies and points of interest.
Close mapping	DSS	Maps surfaces with probes for mapping rewards.