Combat is one of the harder things to learn in this game in my opinion, and takes some getting used to fighting in a newtonian flight model. There are some things that I noticed are necessary or Important to know for survival.

Speed - Your speed should not drop below 1000. This doesn't have to be just foward velocity, it can be horizontal or vertical. A high speed gives you a better chance to avoid missiles.

When Using IDS - Again keep your eye on your speeds, turning too sharp with IDS can cause you to drop below 1000 and become an easy target for missiles. I found that keeping my multiplyer at x3 was enough for me to maintain a fast enough speed that didn't sacrafice maneuverability from going too fast.

When NOT Using IDS - Speed is everything only this time the IDS isn't correcting for changes in direction. You have to use your verical and horizontal thrusters to keep your ship flying the direction you want it too.

Afterburner - I find that using the afterburner is essential to your survival. It is your best option for quickly changing direction and regaining any velocity that is lost. Just make sure you keep an eye on your fuel so you don't run out.

Equipment - I recommend getting a C3 Repair System as soon as possible as well as the best shield booster you can find/afford. A Cannon Relay system is one item I would never fly into combat without. It doubles your firepower and increases your energy pool letting you maintain fire longer.

Beam Weapons - Beam weapons can make a great addition to your firepower. They use very little energy by themselves but inherit the range of your primary cannon system. If you find yourself low on energy I recommend using cannons only as they do more damage for their energy drain.

Most of this I figured out when trying to build my own weapons. I had to experiment and figure out where the different parts came from.

Constructor Stations are used to turn 'raw' products into more usable/valuable components/equipment. When docked at a Constructor anything that can be produced from your cargo bay will show up in the sale area. When making equipment, the class is determined by how much of the material you have in the stack, 25 gets you a Class 5. NOTE: These are just the craftable parts that I have done and do not represent all crafting in the game.

Metal -> Mechanical Parts -> Repair System
Platinum -> Electronics -> Cargo Scanner
Hydrogen* -> Fusion Cells (5:4 ratio) -> Fulcrum Drive
Antimatter -> Fuel Converter (Thanks to ♥ Sora ♥ for this one)

*Hydrogen is found near stars, just fly near one with your tractor beam active.


As you can se in this picture, Hydrogen, Metal and Platinum are all craftable into their components but Water and Diamonds are not.


Here you see the Fusion Cells, Mechanical Parts, Electronics and Anti-Matter (I bought it at a planet) being able to be turned into equipment.

Based on prices in your sector, Certain levels of refinement can be worth more than others.