Surveying planets in Starfield is one of the most immersive ways to explore the Settled Systems while earning credits. Once you scan all flora, fauna, and resource traits on a world, your effort generates a valuable survey slate. Finding the right buyers for these data slates ensures you receive maximum payout for your planetary research.
Selling Survey Data to Vladimir Sall
Vladimir Sall aboard the Eye space station is generally considered the best buyer for planetary survey slates. He offers double the standard vendor price for every completed survey slate you bring him. Visiting Vladimir regularly provides a consistent stream of income as you explore new star systems.
Selling to Vladimir is straightforward because he has a large vendor credit pool dedicated to buying planetary data. Since he is connected to Constellation, his interest in astronomical research makes him the top priority contact. You can easily dump high-value gas giant surveys here for massive profits.
Trading Survey Data with Trade Authority Vendors
If you cannot immediately travel to the Eye, standard Trade Authority kiosks and vendors will also purchase survey data. While they pay less than Vladimir, they offer a convenient option when your inventory is full. Major settlements like New Atlantis, Akila City, and Neon all feature accessible Trade Authority kiosks.
Trade Authority vendors possess substantial credit reserves, allowing you to sell multiple slates in one transaction. This is particularly helpful when offloading survey data from inhabited or resource-light worlds. Turning in slates during routine supply runs keeps your credit balance healthy without detour trips.
Selling Data to LIST Representative Phil Hill
Phil Hill, the representative for Cydonia's LIST organization, buys survey data specifically for habitable worlds. If a planet possesses breathable atmosphere and temperate conditions suitable for civilian settlement, Phil pays top dollar for the slate. You can usually locate him relaxing inside the local bar in Cydonia on Mars.
While Phil does not purchase survey data for barren moons or gas giants, his rates for habitable planets are highly competitive. Checking your survey slates before talking to him allows you to maximize your returns. Combining sales between Phil and Vladimir guarantees you get optimal profits for every planet type.
Tips for Efficient Planetary Surveying
To maximize your income, focus on surveying gas giants and ice giants early in your journey. These planets require only a quick orbital scan to achieve a 100% complete survey slate instantly. Generating these slates takes mere seconds and offers high returns when sold to specialized vendors.
Investing points into surveying skills increases your scanning range and speeds up the discovery of planetary traits. Higher skill ranks allow you to catalog complex worlds with multiple biomes much faster. Efficient surveying turns casual exploration into one of the most lucrative careers in the galaxy.
