In the vast universe of Star Citizen, the Constellation series has always been one of RSI's (Roberts Space Industries) most iconic ship lines. With the release of the new Mark 5, this classic ship has undergone a dual evolution in size and design language. Today, we'll tour the new vessel, compare it to the outgoing Mark IV, and decide if it deserves your hard-earned Star Citizen aUEC.
Exterior Design: Bigger and More Angular
When compared side-by-side with the Mark IV, the Mark 5's most striking feature is its significantly larger scale. Players have even nicknamed it the "Smoleris" (Little Polaris).
Despite the size increase, it retains the core DNA of the original: four outboard engines, a forward canopy, and the majority of its weight pushed toward the rear engineering bay. Look closer, though, and the Mark 5 clearly inherits RSI's newer sharp-edged design language — especially through the midsection.
This angular approach does come with compromises. The trade-off for that sharper waist is a thicker hull — and it largely masks the offset engines that made the Mark IV look so lean. While the ship remains unmistakably RSI in character, many veterans (the reviewer among them) still yearn for the iconic, slender silhouette of the original design.
Interior & The "Gold Standard" Pass
If the fear of your old ship being left in the dust has been nagging at you, relax: CIG has confirmed that older ships will continue receiving "Gold Standard" updates right through to the 1.0 launch.
In this update, both the Mark 5 and the newer Andromeda variants received a comprehensive lighting and material overhaul. A full redo of the component bays brings a sharper, more functional look to the whole interior. The horizontal strut that used to obstruct your view on the bridge has finally been removed—a massive quality-of-life improvement.
The living quarters have also been refined. While we lose the wraparound seating bench that folded into the floor, the new space is visually cleaner and much more integrated with current game mechanics.
Cargo Bay & Vehicles: Far More Capacity
Stepping into the cargo bay reveals the tangible benefits of the size upgrade. The original Mark IV accommodated an Ursa rover, albeit with little room to spare. The Mark 5, by contrast, offers generous space—sufficient to easily house the in-game Nova tank.
Cargo Bay & Component Layout
The cargo bay now includes an upper catwalk with access doors on both sides. Inside these side rooms, you'll find weapon racks that let you restock S2 missiles while on the move. Survival-wise, the Mark 5 splits its components across the whole ship — corridors, passageways, cargo bay — so they can't all go down together.
The New Parasite Craft: Skylark
The Mark 5 no longer carries the Merlin. Instead, it houses the all-new Skylark in its own dedicated airlocked room—a far more thoughtfully designed docking solution than the original. The room even has windows that function as a basic ATC, helping guide other players in during docking.
The Skylark's seating is highly unique—you straddle it like a bike, which offers incredible visibility and lets you look straight down without your legs blocking the view. Right next to the Skylark's dock, the Mark 5 also provides a dedicated weapon rack and suit locker, so you're fully geared up before launch.
Bridge & Handling
The Mark 5 bridge reads immediately as spacious. Stations stay close-knit, but two elevated remote-turret seats now replace the physically occupied gun positions.
A welcome addition is the engineering console located just behind the turret seats, letting you quickly assess damage without running to the back of the ship. Handling is also surprisingly good for a ship this size—not as nimble as the Mark IV, but still capable of getting your guns on target in a pinch.
The offensive and defensive armament consists of four S5-class pilot-directed weapon mounts, two quad-mounted S3 remote turret systems, a complement of thirty-two S2 ordnance cells, and dual S3 shield generators.
Hull Upgrades & Star Citizen aUEC Planning
The Mark 5 picks up right where the Mark IV left off, trading up to a cleaner, more modern design. That said, it has lost a bit of its unique silhouette identity, now looking more like a smaller sibling to the Polaris or the Galaxy.
If you're planning to buy this ship, consider earning or purchasing Star Citizen aUEC to get it in-game. While it's not perfect, it's a fantastic all-rounder capable of handling various missions with friends.
So, will you be adding this bigger Constellation to your hangar?
