How to Buy a Ship with aUEC in Star Citizen
A showroom is only the start. Find Astro Armada’s full catalogue, make the right selection and get your new ship into a hangar—with the Alpha ownership limits clear before you commit.
You can buy ships with aUEC at in-game dealerships, including New Deal in Lorville and Astro Armada in Area18. Choose the vessel at the dealer, confirm the purchase, then retrieve it through ASOP. Check the model carefully before committing: there is no sell-back option, and Support cannot reverse an in-game purchase.
Find Astro Armada and browse beyond the showroom
In Area18, head to the Retail Bridge for Astro Armada. From the habs, turn left and follow the ship signs; F2 opens Maps if you need help finding your way.
The ships on display are only part of the selection. Their individual kiosks provide details, but the main shop terminal holds the fuller catalogue, grouped by manufacturer.
- Interact with the shop terminal using F and select the ship you want.
- Choose PURCHASE SHIP, then check the selected vessel on the confirmation screen.
- Select CONFIRM PURCHASE only when you are certain. The completion message confirms that the ship is available through ASOP.
Check your balance and your choice first
Use the aUEC balance shown in the game. The UEC balance on your account website is separate and does not tell you what you currently have available to spend in the Alpha.
If the ship is available to rent, a trial can help you decide whether it suits your plans. PU rentals use fixed component loadouts, so that trial is with the supplied equipment rather than a custom fit.
Collect your ship from ASOP
Visit an ASOP terminal to deliver or retrieve the vessel and follow its hangar assignment. Buying a larger ship in-game does not expand your assigned personal hangar: that initial size is based on your largest pledged ship. A newly acquired vessel that will not fit uses a public hangar instead.
For a missing ship, a failed retrieval or a vessel that needs a claim, use our ship recovery guide to work through the relevant problem.
What you keep during Alpha
In-game purchases are generally retained during Alpha, but testing or economy changes can require a reset. Check the relevant patch announcements before relying on carry-over. Neither an aUEC balance nor a ship bought with it is a promise of permanent ownership through development; Support also cannot restore lost aUEC.