Is there a better way to travel than just going from system to system with a 10 minute cooldown between systems due to the engine in the rookie ship?

u can buy 2 engines on your ship or even 3....with 3 u jump 3 systems in 10 mins, and so on :)

Sweet! Does that mean I can have multiple reactors too? Do I keep my equipment if I die in red solar systems?

ofc u can have multiple reactors.....only if a player will kill you, you will lose what u have in your cargo and thats all. in other cases u will not lose any