Do you remember what the error said specifically?
Did this happen right when you clicked the travel button or did a travel event trigger first?
I was not watching the screen, suddenly I had just finnished the last planet then saw a travel point I assume was the gate 4 units away but didn't check my status.
Anyway I clicked it I got the words out of fuel and a bunch of other code which I failed to copy and save.
I did hit the button to travel.
I do wander if there could be fuel upgrades.
Also if you can loose crew maybe aliens could join your crew or you could get upgrades.
Maybe an advanced civilation may decide your ship just is no good and offer you a bigger one, etc.
Its certainly a good game.