Start by scanning the asteroid belt from your mining ship, then mine a marked deposit and refine the haul aboard the ship. Once that short loop works, build a station and connect your first production machines with conveyors.
Make one complete mining run
Pick a deposit you can return to easily. A small first haul gives you material to test the ship refinery without spending the whole opening session filling storage.
Give your first station one job
Set up a permanent base when you need production that can grow beyond the starter ship. Pick one product you already need. Arrange its input, processing machine, and output in order so you can watch a batch move through.
Research what opens your next project
Produced items feed research. Let the work you want to do next guide your choice. Improving local production and preparing a ship for travel solve different problems, so avoid splitting your first materials across several projects at once.
See Main Sequence on Steam for the official game information.
FAQ
Where do I refine my first ore?
Refine the opening haul aboard the mining ship. The station becomes the base for larger production.
What do I automate first?
Pick a material you consume repeatedly and prove that one line can make it before adding branches.
Do I need to build a fleet at the start?
One ship can handle the opening mining loop. Expand the fleet as dedicated hauling or defense becomes useful.