Might I suggest (for people more interested in the setting than in the "crunch") a "light" rules set up like the old Star Frontiers game? Fast playing and abstract so you don't get bogged down in the "nuts and bolts".
If you don't own it already (being OOP), there is an excellent fan-pro "tweak" and repackaging available here:
http://www.starfrontiersman.com/downloads/remastered
I'd also recommend dl-ling all 14-15 issues of their fanzine for SF as well, as it has expanded equipment lists/details and new rules, etc.