It is extremely rare as an ore, typically appearing in clusters of 1-5 at most.
It can be found on radioactive/toxic planets. Fuel is the resource ships need to travel. It breaks down Crystal Erchius Fuel and Liquid Erchius Fuel found on moons to provide fuel which the ship requires to navigate to different locations. Liquid Erchius Fuel provides 1 fuel.It can be found midway through moons in pools that vary from having a few bits of fuel,and massive pools that amount to 500 fuel total.Although,as an easier fuel source,you might want to be looking at Crystal Erchius Fuel,which provides you with 2 fuel count and by using a mech on a moon just jumping about,you will find that there is almost always an abundance of said fuel very close to the surface,and can be digged up with ease and relative safety from The Erchius Ghost,and it is quite advised that you beam up as soon as that massive purple figure comes anywhere near you. The FTL Fuel Hatch is a primary component of all player ships. If you mean friendly ship as in a ship in space, you need a mech. You will be able to use those to fuel up your ship. (smithing) then you fly to a moon (this doesn't cost fuel) and go mine the crystal and the liquid if upgraded for fuel.
Create hundreds of new armors, weapons and tools. First thing you should do is work toward making an EPP. A few things to expect: Explore dozens of new biomes.
Its 3 years in now, and quite encompassing.
The amount of fuel is always a constant for now,and only takes up fuel whilst going from solar system to solar system,and the distance does not matter,although it will cost 100 as of now.Take note that I stated solar system to solar system,meaning when you zoom out of the map,and traveling within your solar system is free,as of now. Perhaps the largest of the mods for Starbound, FrackinUniverse combines new biomes, a hugely increased crafting system, science, monsters, tiles and hundreds of other assets to the game. Fuel is used to power spaceships during FTL travel.