I like to use Satellites in the very beginning of the game. Create a frigate with 2 uranium cannons, a sat bay, and a cargo bay.
Now create a Sat with 1 capital ship missile, and a supply bay. Not sure if the supply bay is needed, anybody know?
Now load up 2 Sats on your frigate and send it out to explore. It will be a match for any other frigate at this tech level. Just deploy your sats first thing, and wait till they soften up the enemy ship. Then have your frigate move in for the kill with its cannons so it will get the experience
The only drawback I have found is it seems you can only deploy Sats if you attack another ship. Not if your ship is attacked. Not sure if this is a bug or part of the game? But if you let the AI control your ship for one turn, it will deploy you Sats automatically in either case. Another bug