Caspian Explorer
The Caspian Explorer is a large exploration ship produced by Zorgon Peterson. The ship was announced on 4 November 2025 and is planned for early access for ARX on 2 December 2025.[1][2]
Overview
The Caspian Explorer's hull design has a saucer-shaped, low profile with 6 main engine exhausts, 4 of which are on 2 movable nacelles on either side of the ship that retract and extend laterally.[1] The ship's cockpit canopy sits flush against the hull, giving all crew members a panoramic vertical view at the expense of considerable external side views.
The Caspian Explorer can be outfitted with the following Mk II modules:
- Supercharged Optimised Frame Shift Drive (SCO), which increases the multiplier effect of Fuel Scooping from the jet cones of white dwarfs and neutron stars to 4x and 6x respectively
- Ablative Armour, which supports gravity drops of up to 75 degrees and features glide speeds of up to 3500 m/s
- Gravity Optimised Thrusters, which are tuned for flight within gravity wells and provide a more powerful thrust when the equipped ship is near a planetary surface[2]
Outfitting
- Main article: Outfitting
All ships are highly customizable through the Outfitting menu of Station Services. Listed below is the default load-out for the Caspian Explorer.
| Category | Default System | Default Rating | Default Class | Max Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium Hardpoint | Pulse Laser | -- | -- | 2 |
| Pulse Laser | -- | -- | 2 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 2 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 2 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 2 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 2 | |
| Large Hardpoint | Empty | -- | -- | 3 |
| Utility Mount | Empty | -- | -- | -- |
| Empty | -- | -- | -- | |
| Empty | -- | -- | -- | |
| Empty | -- | -- | -- | |
| Empty | -- | -- | -- | |
| Empty | -- | -- | -- | |
| Bulkheads | Lightweight Alloys | I | C | 1 |
| Reactor Bay | Power Plant | E | 8 | 8 |
| Thrusters Mounting | Thrusters | E | 7 | 7 |
| Frame Shift Drive Housing | Frame Shift Drive (SCO) | E | 8 | 8 |
| Environment Control | Life Support | E | 5 | 5 |
| Power Coupling | Power Distributor | E | 7 | 7 |
| Sensor Suite | Sensors | E | 8 | 8 |
| Fuel Store | Fuel Tank [x128] | C | 7 | 7 |
| Internal Compartments | Cargo Rack [x128] | E | 7 | 7 |
| Shield Generator | E | 6 | 6 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 6 | |
| Cargo Rack [x32] | -- | -- | 5 | |
| Cargo Rack [x32] | -- | -- | 5 | |
| Empty | E | 5 | 5 | |
| Empty | E | 5 | 5 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 4 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 4 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 3 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 2 | |
| Advanced Docking Computer | E | 1 | 1 | |
| Supercruise Assist | E | 1 | 1 | |
| (PAS) | I | 1 | 1 |
- (L) = Loaned Module
- [x#] = Capacity
- (PAS) = Reserved solely for the Planetary Approach Suite or Advanced Planetary Approach Suite
Development
The Caspian Explorer was revealed in a Developer Log Video on YouTube on 4 November 2025, with early access for ARX planned for 2 December 2025.[1][2]
Notes
- The ship design has similarities with the USS Voyager (NCC-74656) of the live-action, sci-fi series Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001).
Videos
Gallery
- Caspian Explorer concept art 1
- Caspian Explorer concept art 2
- Caspian Explorer concept art 3
- Caspian Explorer concept art 4
- Caspian Explorer concept art 5
- Caspian Explorer concept art 6
- Caspian Explorer concept art 7
- Caspian Explorer concept art 8
- Caspian Explorer concept art 9
- Caspian Explorer concept art 10
- Caspian Explorer concept art 11
- Caspian Explorer concept art 12
- Caspian Explorer and Neutron Stars
- Caspian Explorer landing and a brain tree
- Caspian Explorer in Lagrange Cloud
References
- 1 2 3 Elite Dangerous | Developer Log - 4 November 2025 - YouTube
- 1 2 3 November Dev Blog - 25 Nov 2025 - Elite Dangerous website