How do you deal with fuel issues with your explorers? It is making me very hesitant to explore past one jump because dealing with it is a pain.
First, make sure you at least have nuclear pulse before going into another system. Second, all explorers should have maximum fuel efficiency. Here is a design in a game I am playing right now;
Hospitaller class Geological Survey Vessel 3 700 tons 55 Crew 386 BP TCS 74 TH 300 EM 0
4054 km/s Armour 1-21 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/2 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
MSP 65 Max Repair 100 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 48 months Spare Berths 0
300 EP Commercial Ion Drive (1) Power 300 Fuel Use 7.07% Signature 300 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 250 000 Litres Range 172.0 billion km (491 days at full power)
Geological Survey Sensors (2) 2 Survey Points Per Hour
This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
Although, I usually send a tanker in the system at the same time.