BUILD your own ship! EXPLORE space! MEET new and interesting species! You might die, but let's face it: you were probably going to do that anyway. So why not take some recruits, some modular ship parts and an appropriately pragmatic attitude and do something useful before the inevitable occurs? The only important thing to remember is: your training. Or just improvise! Whatever works best, really.
I talk a bit about what I want to do with Spacecraft and show what's there so far. The game is still in early stages and is clearly lacking in polish, so please: be gentle.
Around 3:45, did that little dude blow himself up with a grenade and jump out of the ship? Unwise..