Caspian Explorer
The Caspian Explorer is a large exploration ship produced by Zorgon Peterson. The ship was announced on 4 November 2025 and early access for ARX began on 2 December 2025.[1][2]
Overview
The Caspian Explorer's hull design is 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 is the first ship that can be fitted with a Class 8 hyperdrive (FSD). Two types of Class 8 FSD were released at the same time as the ship:
- the Frame Shift Drive (SCO) (which already existed in Classes 2 to 7), and
- the new Mk II Supercharge Optimised Frame Shift Drive (SCO), which increases the multiplier effect of Fuel Scooping from the jet cones of white dwarfs and neutron stars to 200% and 500%, respectively.[3]
The Caspian Explorer is also the first ship that, at the time of its release, has exclusive access to core internal modules that are not available to any other ship. Three such modules were released along with the ship:
- Hyperdrive - the Mk II Supercharge Optimised Frame Shift Drive (SCO) mentioned above;
- Bulkheads - Ablative Armour, which supports gravity drops of up to 75 degrees and features glide speeds of up to 3500 m/s;
- Thrusters - Mk II 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 | F | 1 | 2 |
| Pulse Laser | F | 1 | 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 |
| Cargo Rack [x64] | E | 6 | 7 | |
| Shield Generator | E | 6 | 6 | |
| Cargo Rack [x32] | E | 5 | 6 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 5 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 5 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 5 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 5 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 4 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 4 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 3 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 2 | |
| Empty | -- | -- | 1 | |
| Supercruise Assist | E | 1 | 1 | |
| Advanced Docking Computer | 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
Notes
- The ship design has numerous similarities with many starships of the science fiction franchise Star Trek, (1965–present), including the Enterprise (NX-01) and its sister ships of the NX-Class, the USS Voyager (NCC-74656, Intrepid-Class), the USS Defiant (NX-74205, Defiant-Class), the Centaur-Class frigates, and the Akira-Class heavy cruisers.
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
- Caspian Explorer Cockpit Sideview
- Caspian Explorer and Neutron Star
References
- 1 2 3 Elite Dangerous | Developer Log - 4 November 2025 - YouTube
- 1 2 3 November Dev Blog - 25 Nov 2025 - Elite Dangerous website
- ↑ Zorgon Peterson Unveils Caspian Explorer Vessel - 02 Dec 2025 - Elite Dangerous website