They release pay 2 get ship right when steam awards happen. Not exactly spectacular marketing on their part.
You can farm stuff and sell it for GS or just earn these 30 bucks if you REALLY have to get the ship in the early access. Or you can just wait till its released as any other ship. I really don’t get the folks that think the game should run pro bono. The paid early access is one of the best ways to handle income without resorting to pay to win or using the game to advertise other products. Just imagine a “free” ship but with a Head&Shoulders shampoo skin, just so the devs can pay electric bills.