Star Citizen Constellation Taurus Guide: Cargo, Solo & Price
The RSI Constellation Taurus is the cargo-focused member of the Constellation family and one of the more practical large ships for players who want meaningful freight capacity without moving into a dedicated heavy hauler. Current Alpha 4.10 data gives it 174 SCU of cargo, four Size 5 pilot-controlled guns, 24 Size 2 missiles, a crewed gun turret, a tractor-beam turret, and 72,000 HP of shielding.
Its strongest advantage is the combination of cargo capacity and pilot firepower. The Taurus can make hauling its primary job without becoming nearly helpless when PvE combat interrupts a run. The compromise is its airframe: this is still a 70-meter Constellation with a large profile and slow rotational handling compared with smaller multirole ships.
Constellation Taurus Specifications in Alpha 4.10
| SpecificationCurrent Alpha 4.10 | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Roberts Space Industries |
| Role | Medium Freight |
| Status | Flight Ready |
| Size | Size 4 |
| Length | 70 m |
| Width | 27.75 m |
| Height | 15.25 m |
| Cargo Capacity | 174 SCU |
| Main Cargo Grid | 168 SCU |
| Rear Cargo Grid | 6 SCU |
| Crew Data | 4–5 |
| Total Crew Stations | 5 |
| Escape Pods | 4 |
| SCM Speed | 180 m/s |
| NAV Speed | 950 m/s |
| Shield | 72,000 HP |
| Pilot Weapons | 4 × Size 5 |
| Gun Turret | 2 × Size 3 |
| Missiles | 24 × Size 2 |
| Utility Turret | 2 × Size 2 tractor beams |
| Current Pledge MSRP | $200 |
| In-Game Purchase | 7,641,650 aUEC |
| Rental | 160,877 aUEC |
The version-locked vehicle data reports a 4–5 crew range, five total crew stations, and four escape pods. The station count is more useful for understanding the ship's available roles than treating the listed crew range as a strict minimum requirement for everyday operation.
Why the Taurus Works as a Cargo Ship
The headline 174 SCU capacity is split between a 168 SCU main cargo grid and a separate 6 SCU rear grid. Current Alpha 4.10 data also shows that the main grid supports boxes up to 16 SCU, while the smaller rear grid supports boxes up to 4 SCU.
That makes the Taurus well suited to routine commodity trading and hauling contracts built around small and medium containers, but raw SCU does not tell the whole story. A 174 SCU Taurus does not provide the same loading freedom as a heavy hauler with a large open drive-through bay.
Cargo access uses the Constellation's lowering belly platform rather than a conventional rear freight ramp. Bringing the cargo grid close to ground level can make loading straightforward, but the elevator dimensions still constrain how freight is arranged and moved.
The cargo specialization extends to the lower manned turret. Current data mounts two Size 2 SureGrip tractor beams there, while the upper manned turret carries two Size 3 CF-337 Panther laser repeaters.
That gives a second crew member two genuinely different ways to improve the ship. During loading, they can operate the tractor turret; when the route becomes dangerous, they can move to the upper turret for additional defensive coverage.
RSI has also historically described the Taurus as having a reinforced security hold and cargo-release system. The current Live data clearly supports the separate 6 SCU rear grid, but older marketing language about security should not be interpreted as guaranteed scan immunity under current gameplay mechanics.
Can You Solo the Constellation Taurus?
Yes. The Taurus is practical to operate solo for routine hauling and many PvE activities, but a solo pilot cannot use every station at the same time.
The main reason solo operation works is weapon control. The pilot retains all four Size 5 forward guns and the missile battery, so flying alone does not remove the ship's primary offensive capability.
A second player adds more value than simply occupying an extra seat. They can use the upper gun turret during combat or operate the tractor-beam turret during cargo work, reducing the amount of task switching required from the pilot.
Engineering is more nuanced than simply calling the Taurus a low-maintenance ship. CIG's current Engineering Gameplay Guide lists the Constellation Taurus in the Alpha 4.8 Stage 2 — Partial Functionality rollout. Stage 2 means some physicalized components may be accessible, some item repair can be performed through physical access, Engineering screens, or MFDs depending on the vehicle, and some relays may be accessible.
That is different from Stage 1 Basic Support, where physicalized components and relays are unavailable. It also means the Taurus should not be treated as permanently exempt from multicrew engineering workload as the system continues to develop.
For current practical use, one player is enough for ordinary freight work, while two players make loading and defensive combat noticeably more comfortable. Additional crew becomes more useful on risky routes or during prolonged combat, but filling all five stations is unnecessary for most routine cargo sessions.
Weapons, Shields and Combat Capability
The Taurus is a freighter, but its forward weapon package is unusually strong for that role. Its Alpha 4.10 configuration carries four Size 5 CF-557 Galdereen laser repeaters under pilot control and 24 Size 2 missiles. The upper manned turret contributes another pair of Size 3 Panther repeaters.
That combination works best against targets the pilot can keep in front of the ship. Larger NPC vessels and slower targets give the Taurus time to apply its Size 5 guns without requiring a gunner to produce meaningful damage.
The limitation is maneuverability. Current data gives the ship a 180 m/s SCM speed, with approximately 25 degrees per second of pitch and 21 degrees per second of yaw. Small fighters that move outside the forward firing arc can therefore be much harder to engage than the gun sizes suggest.
Defense comes from 72,000 HP of shielding in the current Alpha 4.10 data. That gives the Taurus meaningful resilience for an armed cargo ship, but it does not make it a dedicated gunship.
The Constellation Andromeda illustrates the trade-off. Current 4.10 data gives the Andromeda 96 SCU of cargo and 100,000 HP of shielding, alongside a more combat-oriented Constellation configuration. The Taurus sacrifices some of that combat emphasis in exchange for substantially more freight capacity and its tractor-beam utility.
PvE
PvE is where the Taurus's mix of systems is easiest to use.
A solo pilot can carry mission or commodity freight and still bring substantial forward damage when an NPC encounter interrupts the route. Against larger targets, the ship does not need a full crew to contribute meaningful firepower.
It becomes less comfortable when combat revolves around agile fighters. The guns are powerful enough to punish a target that stays in front of the ship, but putting the nose on a mobile opponent is often the harder problem.
Adding a gunner improves coverage, but it does not turn the Taurus into a fighter.
PvP
The Taurus should be treated as an armed freighter in PvP, not a substitute for a purpose-built combat ship.
Four Size 5 pilot guns can heavily punish a careless approach, and a crewed upper turret makes attacking the ship more complicated. An experienced fighter pilot or organized group can still exploit its large profile and slow rotation.
If the cargo is valuable enough that losing the ship would matter, escort support is a better risk-management strategy than assuming the Taurus can win every interception by itself.
Interior and Ownership Practicality
The Taurus retains the familiar Constellation layout: a multi-seat forward bridge, crew spaces, a long central cargo section, and the extended freight area that replaces the rear snub-fighter arrangement used by the Andromeda.
Current Alpha 4.10 data lists five total crew stations, four escape pods, and a small weapon rack with two rifle slots.
It does not use that crew summary to establish four beds, so the escape-pod count should not be treated as a bed count.
The interior is functional rather than specialized around luxury or medical support. Its practical value comes from keeping bridge operations, cargo, utility equipment, crew positions, and combat capability inside one hull.
The larger ownership burden is physical scale rather than a mandatory crew requirement. Landing takes more room than it does in a medium hauler, the cargo elevator adds another step to the loading workflow, and the ship cannot reposition as quickly as smaller alternatives.
For someone upgrading from a Cutlass, Spirit, Freelancer, or similar ship, the change in physical size will usually be more noticeable than the listed 4–5 crew range.
Constellation Taurus Price and In-Game Availability
Current Alpha 4.10 vehicle data lists a $200 MSRP for the Constellation Taurus.
It is also available with in-game currency. Current 4.10 listings show a purchase price of 7,641,650 aUEC at New Deal in Lorville and Teach's Ship Shop in Levski.
The ship is also listed for rent through Regal Luxury Rentals at New Babbage for 160,877 aUEC.
That rental is particularly useful for evaluating the Taurus because its value depends on more than specifications. A short rental can tell you whether you actually like the Constellation's handling, elevator-based freight workflow, cockpit visibility, and overall physical size before committing to ownership.
For pledge comparisons, $200 should be treated as the current MSRP / standard ship value. Historical Taurus prices, old Warbond editions, and CCU discounts are separate price types and should not be presented as the current standalone value.
Taurus vs Other Cargo Ships
| ShipBetter Choice When…Main Trade-Off | ||
|---|---|---|
| Zeus Mk II CL | You want a smaller 128 SCU cargo ship with a more compact footprint | Less cargo and substantially less pilot firepower |
| Constellation Andromeda | Combat capability and the Constellation snub-fighter arrangement matter more | Cargo falls to 96 SCU |
| C2 Hercules | Bulk hauling and heavy vehicle transport are the priority | Far larger operating footprint |
The Zeus Mk II CL carries 128 SCU in current Alpha 4.10 data. It is a better fit for players who value a smaller ship and a modern cargo-focused workflow over the Taurus's additional capacity and four Size 5 forward guns.
For a deeper look at that alternative, see the LTI Hangar Zeus Mk II CL Guide.
The Constellation Andromeda is the obvious choice for players who like the Connie platform but want to move further toward combat. Current 4.10 data gives it 96 SCU and 100,000 HP of shielding compared with the Taurus's 174 SCU and 72,000 HP.
The C2 Hercules sits at the other end of the cargo scale. Its current Alpha 4.10 grids total 696 SCU, giving it roughly four times the Taurus's freight capacity together with a much larger vehicle-friendly cargo bay.
That is not simply a bigger Taurus. It moves ownership into a different scale of freight operation, with a larger hull, larger landing footprint, and a cargo workflow built around heavy-volume transport.
See the LTI Hangar C2 Hercules Guide for the full heavy-hauler comparison.
Who Should Buy the Constellation Taurus?
The Taurus makes the most sense for players who want cargo to be a primary gameplay loop without buying a ship that only feels useful when hauling.
Its 174 SCU grid provides a meaningful step above smaller medium freighters, while the four pilot-controlled Size 5 guns let a solo owner retain significant PvE capability. Bringing one additional player also produces a clear benefit through either the gun turret or tractor-beam station.
It is particularly attractive to solo players and small groups who have outgrown ships such as the Freelancer MAX, C1 Spirit, or Zeus Mk II CL but do not yet need the scale of a C2 or other heavy freighter.
Who Should Skip It?
Players mainly interested in dogfighting should skip the Taurus. The Size 5 weapons are attractive on paper, but the ship cannot turn those hardpoints into fighter-like handling.
It is also a poor fit for anyone who dislikes manual cargo work or large-ship movement. The additional capacity comes with a longer hull, a lift-based cargo grid, and slower positioning than smaller freight ships.
Players who already know they want very high-volume hauling should consider whether jumping directly to a C2-class ship makes more sense.
Conversely, someone who only occasionally transports cargo may get more value from an Andromeda or another multirole ship that allocates less of its hull to freight.
Is the Constellation Taurus Worth It?
The Taurus remains a strong choice for solo and small-crew players who want meaningful cargo capacity without giving up substantial pilot-controlled firepower.
Its main advantage is not simply the 174 SCU figure. It is the combination of that cargo grid with four Size 5 pilot guns, 24 missiles, and a dedicated tractor-beam turret. The ship can earn money as a hauler while remaining useful when a session shifts into PvE combat or general transport.
The main reason to avoid it is the Constellation chassis itself. The Taurus is large, slow to rotate, dependent on nose positioning in combat, and less straightforward to load than a wide ramp-based heavy freighter.
For players who primarily haul but still want one ship capable of cargo, travel, PvE, and small-crew utility, the Taurus occupies a useful middle ground in Alpha 4.10. Players chasing maximum cargo volume, fighter agility, or dedicated multicrew combat will be better served by a more specialized hull.
FAQ
How much cargo does the Constellation Taurus carry?
The Constellation Taurus carries 174 SCU in current Alpha 4.10 data. That consists of a 168 SCU main grid and a separate 6 SCU rear grid. The main grid supports boxes up to 16 SCU, while the rear grid supports boxes up to 4 SCU.
Is the Constellation Taurus good for solo players?
Yes. A solo pilot retains control of the four main Size 5 guns, missiles, flight controls, and normal cargo operation. Additional crew improve turret coverage and tractor-beam use, while current engineering functionality also creates some multicrew workload that should not be ignored. Solo operation is practical, but it does not provide simultaneous access to every system.
Does the Constellation Taurus have a tractor beam?
Yes. Current Alpha 4.10 data lists a manned utility turret carrying two Size 2 SureGrip tractor beams. This replaces the second gun turret found on more combat-focused Constellation configurations and gives another crew member a dedicated cargo-handling role.
How much does the Constellation Taurus cost in Star Citizen?
Current Alpha 4.10 data lists a $200 MSRP, an in-game purchase price of 7,641,650 aUEC, and a rental listing of 160,877 aUEC at Regal Luxury Rentals in New Babbage. In-game economy prices may change in later patches.
