I learned how to use the shuttle in the debris fields tonight. Forgive me for not knowing the names of things or the correct terminology. I just started playing a few days ago. Anyway, fly the Battlecruiser to the debris field (you might not HAVE to do this but this is just what I do). Then, be on the bridge view (you can probably do this anywhere else, too) and click on the shuttle (it says SC1 or SC2 etc. on the far right) and send it out. Then click on it again and pick "orders" and click cargosweep. Then I go into the shuttle view by ALT F5 (for the first shuttle) and press 'A' for autopilot. The shuttle then goes around collecting cargo. You can speed the game up by pressing CTRL A and slow it down by CTRL SHIFT A. After the shuttle collects all the cargo, go back to your Battlecruiser bridge view (press ESC) then give "orders" to the shuttle to RTB (return to Battlecruiser). After it docks, go into either Logistic Computer or Tactical (I can't remember but it's one of those 2). You can get into them by clicking anywhere on the screen then click 'systems' then pick the computer. You wanna look for something that says "Loadout" then pick the shuttle then click where it says "Unload all cargo". This seems to work good for me. Hope this helps.