[chewy027]

1) all depends on your pace and playing style

2) should update as quickly as possible always produce the best ship possible don't build obsolete ships

3) mines are good for blocking up exposed wormholes or as a first defense for planets. Sats are good at detecting cloaked vessels and such in your systems just build one with the appropriate sensor package

4) research quantum reactor and never run out of supplies

5) as much as possible for both

On a side note, these things all become critical to know how to use when playing against a human opponent (especially upgrading your ships)