Odyssey QnA is out

[NoizeMaker]

Pure exploration ability? As in heading out long distances and being able to find things with little or no contact from the other side of the universe?

Odyssey 100% trumps the Carrack with current info.

I've read in a few places on spectrum that a sizeable "Fuel module" is already confirmed in the works, and a fuel scoop/refining module is likely. In that circumstance, it would only be in very limited circumstances that an Odyssey is a better pick, and would require the Carrack to be completely unspecced for such a use case.

We don't know any of this with certainty yet, but then we haven't seen the Odyssey fully in-game yet either. If we're basing all of this on hypotheticals, then there exists a pretty easily assumed hypothetical where the Carrack is nearly as or just as independent: 3 modules with prospective massive extended fuel tanks, science or mining equipment, and possibly even refining equipment... we also don't know what drones are for/capable of yet.

Why? Refueling yourself means you can just keep going, no need to return to base or hunt for a trader/hub.

True. Fuel is vital - but it's not the only vital resource to "unlimited exploration". We have no idea what sorts of damage/repair/subsistence challenges will be faced in exploration, let alone how food/drink/meds/raw materials will be handled or replenished for long voyages.

Plus, when you are out in the wild, you can send your prospector/cargo ship from your huge beautiful hangar through a jump point you couldnt fit into in order to re-supply, re-arm or unload things.
It literally is an almost complete staging craft and/or base of operations for exploring. The Carrack is something you head out with when what you want to explore is WITHIN fuel range(or round trip range) or you know there will be support waiting/available at the destination.

Maybe. It's possible the Carrack is simply a better ship for dangerous, long-term exploration and the Odyssey is more for "fleshing out" the in-betweens of new systems. It's also possible the Carrack is an "advance guard/scout" into uncharted/dangerous systems that the Odyssey wouldn't dare venture into, but slower/less efficient...

At this juncture, I see five possible types of exploration, and I think a case could be made that either ship will fit into some (but not all) of them at a time.

1. Straight-line/deep "safe" jumping --- Odyssey almost certainly better at this
2. Straight-line/deep "dangerous" jumping --- Carrack likely better but perhaps not depending on modules
3. Webbed exploration in relatively known space --- Odyssey may be faster at this, though maybe not "better" in terms of ease
4. Webbed exploration in relatively unknown space --- Carrack almost certainly better at this
5. Chase-the-rabbit exploration --- could go either way