A question about solar panels

[Loser]

I do not believe so. Much like the 1,000,000 person modular arcologies, the Crew Quarters and Life Support system create a fully self-sustaining environment for the crew, one where they can continue to live despite loss of all supplies, seven systems away from the rim, unrecoverable, but still consuming maintenance resources.

That's what I'm wondering. Why the blank can't I get intel reports from my omnipresent, invisible, vacuous fleet of resource freighters? Or at least tell them that a certain ship is 'cut off'. I know why: because that's not the way the game works. I'd hardly want time or Aarontime spent of changing that, but I'd like to hear a good excuse.

And another thing: ship takes damage (damn non-fatal mine fields), looses Bridge, Crew Quarters, Life Support. The ship still operates, sort of. Is this one guy left awake, like 2001, where everyone else sleeps? Are the sleep beds built into the chassis? Shouldn't there be a way to kill the crew themselves and eliminate their 'experience' level?