Tom,
Most experienced players build additional space yard space stations around their home worlds. They also design colonizers that take 2 turns to build on the plantes ship yard. They colonize anything in the home system. Small planets are good for extra research, radioactives, and planet shipyards. Meanwhile the extra shippyards can crank out some extra ships.
SATs can be a good early defense. Try building armed small transports instead of escorts. Include 3 sat layers and 3 cargo for required 150 cargo space. Then add Cap Missle (CSM) or Depleted (DUC).
Also try this strategy site:
http://home.earthlink.net/~petemmer/
[ 09 April 2002: Message edited by: Wardad ]