Here's an idea: Why not have research probes that you can launch from your space station to another planet, so you can gather data on a planet (like planet type, temperature, if its inhabited, etc) before you land there? Perhaps have a camera probe that allows you to see what the surface of a planet looks like. This way, the player will have an easier time making preparations for a drop-in.
that's a pretty good idea, if you don't mind i've got something that could be added on to that imagine if you could even get one to scan the lifeforms from space, so you could learn their language which could help to learn about them
