I got sidetracked for a while, but here are some answers from that chat:

Ideally you just swap planets. Whatever you have set up for them on planet one is now surprise on planet two.

[in response to the above] This is the default solution for story focused games. The story continues to the next act, the players dictate how.

“I hadn’t thought of that! I don’t have anything prepared. Why don’t we just pause things here for now and chat. I’ll have it ready next time.”

I guess the question is how far off the path? Jump 1 away or Jump 6? GM completely unprepared? Or not as prepared as you’d like? As a Traveller GM I’ve got

• The notes for every planet and system within range of the PCs ship x2. I.e. for J2 every system within 4 parsecs.
• A list of 100+ random NPC names
• A couple sentences about each system
• Same for the two to five largest factions in my setting

So if the PCs wander I’ve usually got enough material for one night’s worth of material

An easy delay is simply to go into more detail. For example, have them go through the steps of Customs at the new starport, or notice something interesting about another ship, etc. It adds texture to the game, is interesting, and gives you the extra time to prep.

For my group (not sure if it will work for every group) i just leveraged their completionist mindsets. I told them "here are 15 jobs" and the first thing they did was plot an exact course to hit all of them, so they prevented themselves from wandering.

The last one is my favorite of this bunch, because as a player I'd fall for that hook, line, and sinker.

Thank you everyone for participating!

I think a good sci-fi campaign can always benefit from a Heist. Like a train heist or something.

The flip side, which is also fun, the convoy escort role. The crew is part of a convoy and must defend it from marauders.

And the Seven Samurai is a classic stationary version of the above that has been adapted time and again for sci-fi.

Traveller, or better yet 2300AD or Hostile for better fit on the setting with the same classic 2d6 rules. Cy_Borg or Stars Without Number for OSR.

Diaspora, Mindjammer, or Nova Praxis if you’re willing to try a more modern system (Fate), but the setting should be pretty close on them, depending on where in the story you want it to be. Diaspora should be a good fit if you want to explore different systems throughout a network of spheres.

Right, that uses the Fantasy Flight Games' Narrative Dice System (same as WH Fantasy).

Wow. I hadn't heard of a single item in your list except for SLA Industries. Not that surprising considering most are long out of print.

By Jupiter Chronicles do you mean Jovian Chronicles?

Sounds like you’d like Hostile by Zozer Games. They have a solo version too where you control a crew.

Ninguém citou ainda Mutants and Masterminds, que é um clássico, baseado em d20.

Marvel Heroic Roleplaying não tá mais sendo vendido (a Marvel não renovou a licença), mas o pessoal fala muito bem. Sistema Cortex.

That's right. Arguably the most famous?

Come to think of it, I don't think there ever was a Fate official Star Wars setting. I didn't find it, anyway.

BattleTech! That's the one. Didn't know they made an RPG out of it.

Firefly is an out of print Cortex Plus game by Margaret Weis Productions. It's in the list as well as Serenity (the Cortex Classic game by MWP, isn't IP licensing fun?).

Rifts is a classic, but also a very strange animal. And for some reason I thought Robotech was a minis game (must be confusing with something else).

Star Wars is already listed. I know those are technically different games, but I'm trying to keep the list as concise as possible (grouping the multiple versions of the same setting under one entry). I don't know much about the history of star wars RPG though. How would you summarize it? (WEG d6, d20, Fate)?

Done and thank you!