RSI Aurora Q&A: Aurora Mk II modules, cargo, retirement details

The Aurora has always been one of those ships that sits near the foundation stones of the 'verse. As the descendant of RSI’s X-7 jump-engine test craft, the Aurora Mk I carried humanity’s early ambition from one hangar century into the next, and for a great many pilots it was the first proper taste of life among the stars.

Now RSI is handing the torch from the outgoing Mk I to the new Mk II, and CIG’s vehicle and gameplay teams have laid out what that means for both ships. The short version: the Aurora Mk II and Aurora Mk I SE are set to be flyable when Alpha 4.7 goes live, and the new ship is being positioned as a modernized, more capable take on the classic starter that so many players cut their teeth on.

Aurora Mk I & Mk II

RSI describes the Aurora Mk II as a ground-up evolution that keeps recognizable echoes of the original while updating the ship for today’s game systems. Familiar touches remain, including the circular side door, the bed arrangement, and the window layout, but the Mk II is intended to be far more capable within current mechanics. In other words, same family line, sharper suit.

Below are the developer answers, preserved in order and rewritten for clarity.

What makes the Aurora Mk II a worthy evolution of the original?

According to the developers, the Mk II keeps the core identity of the Mk I but updates it for the state of Star Citizen as it exists now. Pilots should still spot callbacks to the original design, such as the circular side door, bed setup, and windows, but the ship itself has been rebuilt from the ground up to be more capable in the current game.

Can the folding wings be controlled independently in flight?

Yes. The wings can be toggled independently during flight. The one exception is landing mode, which forces them into the folded position.

Do different wing states change how the ship handles?

They will in the future, though only in minor aerodynamic ways. At launch, the key gameplay difference is that folding the wings disables the wing-mounted guns. CIG says this is to stop the weapons firing through the ship and to prevent players from fighting with a much smaller frontal cross section.

Why switch the Aurora series from variants to modularity?

The developers say the Mk II’s early design phase explored both modules and traditional variants. Looking at existing gameplay loops, they decided it was more interesting to build a base ship that can handle a bit of most mission types, then let players improve or specialize it further through modules rather than locking those roles into separate variants.

Does the Cargo Module stack with the ship’s built-in storage?

Yes. The base ship’s 2 SCU of embedded storage stacks with the Cargo Module’s 6 SCU for a total of 8 SCU. CIG says that places the Aurora Mk II alongside other cargo-capable starters like the Avenger Titan at 8 SCU and above ships like the Reliant Kore at 6 SCU, as well as the Anvil Pisces and Drake Cutter at 4 SCU.

How does the Combat Module affect combat?

The Combat Module adds another missile rack and another shield generator. In practice, that means noticeably more offensive punch from the added missiles and backup shielding from a third generator when the ship’s base shields are down. The tradeoff is added mass and slightly worse handling.

How do the external modules actually work?

The Aurora Mk II is the first ship to use externally attached modules, and players will be able to swap them in two ways: manually with a tractor beam or through the mobiGlas Vehicle Loadout Manager. If you own the modules, they can be brought up via freight elevators. CIG also says players can salvage modules they find in the world and attach them with a tractor beam.

Do the modules change the ship’s flight characteristics?

Yes. Both modules add mass, and that slightly reduces the ship’s performance.

Will more modules arrive later?

Yes, more modules are planned. CIG is not confirming specific future module types yet, but says there are multiple gameplay loops that could support them.

How did lessons from later ship development shape the Mk II?

The team says the biggest differences come from the current scope of the game itself. Modern ships need more internal room for player movement and access, and they now carry far more interactive elements, including weapon racks, storage, fire extinguishers, and component access points. Combined with newer RSI styling, that has produced a ship that is larger than the Mk I but also more capable.

How do you get the free Celebration paint?

The limited-edition blue-and-red Celebration paint is being given to all Aurora Mk I owners during this promotion. To qualify, an account must have an active Aurora pledge both at the start of the promotion and again a few days after it closes. If you do not currently have an active Aurora on your account, you have until the end of the Celebration promotion to acquire or recover one and keep it there.

CIG says only one paint will be gifted per account with an active Aurora pledge, and that gift is non-transferable. Once you have received it, you keep the paint even if you later melt, gift, or upgrade the Aurora after the promotion ends.

Are Aurora Mk I paints compatible with the Mk II?

No. The Mk I and Mk II are separate chassis rather than variants of the same chassis, so paints do not carry over between them.

Can the Mk I SE exterior or interior be applied to other Auroras?

No. CIG says the SE is an exclusive final-run variant created to celebrate the series, combining standout elements from the other ships into one package. Its exterior paint treatment is the default look for the SE, and like the existing Mk I lineup, each version has its own default paint that cannot be applied to the others. The interior is also exclusive to the SE and cannot be transferred to other Auroras.

Will the Aurora Mk I SE return after this promotion?

No. CIG says the Aurora Mk I SE is a limited-time promotional variant and there are currently no plans to offer it again later.

Does retiring the Aurora Mk I mean it can no longer be flown?

No. The Mk I is not being removed from the universe. RSI is ending production of the old model in favor of the Mk II, turning the original into a collector’s item within the lore. When the Mk I is retired on September 30, 2026, its in-game playability will remain unchanged, much like the previously retired Anvil Hornet Mk I. CIG says this six-month notice is meant to give interested players plenty of time to acquire one before its farewell.

Will Aurora Mk I ships and upgrades still be available in buyback after the sunset?

CIG says this promotion begins a sunset window for the Aurora Mk I across both the Pledge Store and in-game shops. That includes unretrieved standalone ships, upgrades, and CCUs in account buyback queues that specifically involve the Aurora Mk I. The window begins on March 25, 2026 and is scheduled to end on September 30, 2026.

After September 30, 2026, the Aurora Mk I will still be fully supported in gameplay, including repairs, refueling, maintenance, and components, but the chassis will no longer be obtainable through standard in-game vendors.

Will the Aurora Mk I still be earnable in game?

For now, CIG is keeping the door open. The developers note that the Mk I will remain in in-game and web shops for another six months, and they are still considering interesting ways players might be able to acquire rare collector-style items like it in-game down the line.

Source: RSI Comm-Link