“In Elite Dangerous, Counter Insurgency Surface Scan Missions can be a lucrative and exciting way to earn credits and reputation. These missions typically involve flying your ship to a planet, landing in a restricted area, and scanning a dat”
In this Elite Dangerous video, Ricardo discusses the counter insurgency surface scan missions available in the game. These missions can be found at most stations and are located in the operations section of the missions board. The objective of these missions is to scan the nav beacon, gather the data, and deliver it back to the source of origin. Ricardo explains that these missions can be completed using either a ship or an SRV (Surface Reconnaissance Vehicle).
Ricardo begins by showing us a typical outpost where these missions take place. He explains that these outposts usually consist of a few buildings, a space gun, a data port, and sometimes some materials to collect. He also mentions the presence of geysers in the distance, which can provide additional materials. He then proceeds to plot the route to the mission destination, which is usually within 15 to 20 light years from the originating mission board.
Once in the destination system, Ricardo emphasizes the importance of scanning the system and the nav beacon to gather more exploration data. This data contributes to the player’s exploration ranking. After scanning the nav beacon, the mission destination planet is revealed. Ricardo advises using a surface scanner to scan the planet’s surface for additional information. He then demonstrates a smooth descent onto the planet, approaching the artificial structure where the mission objective is located.
Ricardo lands just outside the exclusion zone, as a precaution against the base’s guns. However, he notes that for this particular mission, there is no exclusion zone, and the guns are dormant. He proceeds to deploy his SRV, a Scarab, and begins exploring the settlement. He shows the data portal, which needs to be scanned to complete the mission. Ricardo explains that this can be done by selecting the portal and using the data link scanner. Once scanned, the mission is complete, and the player can return to the ship and then to the station to collect their rewards.
Finally, Ricardo reveals a tip that these missions can also be completed using the ship itself, without the need for an SRV. He demonstrates this by approaching another settlement in his ship, scanning the fuel depot terminal, and swiftly leaving the area. He concludes the video by summarizing the counter insurgency surface scan missions and reminding players that they have the option to use either an SRV or their ship to complete these missions.