Operate the MOLE: pilot, mining seat and handoff

Name the two jobs before departure

Agree who positions the ship and who operates the first occupied mining station. When alone, identify the pilot-to-work-seat return route while safely parked.

Expected result: You can identify the flight controls, intended work seat and a route back before approaching a rock.

If it did not work: If you cannot identify the work seat, practise with an experienced operator before paying for modules. A seat with a display is not proof it controls a mining laser.

Check the target from the work seat

After positioning safely, occupy the chosen mining station and inspect its target, distance and available analysis. Ask for repositioning if the target cannot be worked from that station.

Expected result: The intended rock can be identified and analyzed from the occupied work seat.

If it did not work: Do not compensate for an unreachable target by endlessly increasing power. Stop and return to the pilot seat, or ask your pilot to adjust the position.

Make one deliberate reposition

Stop the laser, confirm it is inactive, then have the pilot move. Solo, return to the flight controls before moving and reassess the target after sitting down at the mining station again.

Expected result: Flight movement and the next laser attempt are separate, acknowledged stages.

If it did not work: If the target or ship moves unexpectedly, stop work. Do not keep firing while trying to diagnose an unsafe position.

Open your actual bindings if a key differs

Open Options, then Keybindings. Select Keyboard / Mouse and open Advanced Controls Customization. Check Vehicles - Mining and the seat/operator-mode actions.

Expected result: You can read the binding assigned to the action, rather than guessing from a video.

If it did not work: For a stick or throttle, select that device instead. Keep your existing custom layout; do not reset it just to follow this page.

Enter mining mode

Mining Mode Toggle

Once positioned safely in a mining-capable seat and SCM mode, tap M.

Expected result: Mining information appears. Find the mode name before operating the beam.

If it did not work: If you still see a different operator mode, check the seat, master mode and assigned mining-mode binding.

Start or stop the beam

Fire Mining Laser (Toggle)

A short click toggles the beam. The stop check is whether the beam actually disappears.

Expected result: The beam changes between on and off.

If it did not work: If your input acts differently, check Fire Mining Laser in your own profile. Do not rely on a low power number as proof the laser is off.

Change the laser task

Switch Mining Laser (Toggle)

With the beam off, hold Left Alt and click LMB to change between fracture and extraction.

Expected result: The displayed task changes. Read it before firing.

If it did not work: Use the binding menu if nothing changes. Some older guides show RMB; this lesson uses the newer vehicle control.

Adjust power

Increase / Decrease Mining Laser Power

While operating the mining laser, scroll up to raise power and down to lower it.

Expected result: The laser power or throttle readout changes.

If it did not work: If the wheel changes another control, return to mining mode and check your mining power binding.

Read back the setup at each occupied station

Ask each operator to identify the selected target, installed head, active mode and stop action before anyone starts a shared attempt.

Expected result: The crew knows which seats are occupied and which equipment each operator controls.

If it did not work: If an operator cannot identify their mode or power response, return to the one-head exercise. More beams are not a repair for an unexplained control problem.

Agree the collection handoff

After a clean fracture, identify which pieces are ready for extraction. Stop fracture work before changing task and confirm which operator is collecting.

Expected result: The crew distinguishes making fragments from actually adding material to storage.

If it did not work: If a piece still needs fracturing or storage is full, do not interpret an active collecting beam as successful extraction.

Record the next handoff

Note the intended receiving location and who will handle processing, later collection and any shared proceeds. Recheck those decisions before returning with a load.

Expected result: The material has an agreed next destination and the crew knows which job remains after the mining ends.

If it did not work: If there is no suitable collection ship or time for the output, choose a smaller trial. Use the refinery guide to inspect the actual offered method, fee and completion state.