1. What causes it?
2. What are the consequences?
3. How is it corrected?
I designed a Geo survey vessel to survey my local solar system (not jump capable). I set a expected deployment time of 9 months. Standing orders were to survey next 5 closest objects, return to earth for refuel at less than 50% and return to earth for resupply at less than 20%. Before I knew it, I was receiving reports that the vessel had exceeded deployment time and it was indeed over 9 months and in the red. I cancelled standing orders and returned the vessel to Earth immediately to refuel and resupply. It has completed the order and is now in orbit, but the deployment time has not reset.
Maintenance supply is good, no damage reported, and I believe crew morale is OK too, but I'll have to double check that.
Thanks.
I think your deployment time is much too short, because certain distances, to reach them (for comets or asteroids)
takes over 2000 days to travel. You should also know, that the Geo ship does not start, systematically towards the planets close to the earth.
Your ship had the capacity, to hold 9 months in fuel and MSP, to continue the Geo surveys, but not your crew.
Conclusion increase deployment time.
For my part I always put 120 months (but you put what you want), the ship will do the whole solar system (Without counting the other systems in one go, maybe 9 or 10)
no problem, with of course the necessary to do so.