MOLE

The MOLE (Multi Operator Laser Extractor) is a medium-sized multi-crew mining ship developed by Argo Astronautics. Equipped with three independent mining turrets and extensive crew facilities, this vessel is ideally suited for effective multi-crew mining operations. Furthermore, a substantial collection of twenty four 12SCU mineral pods guarantees that no valuable resources will be overlooked. The MOLE embodies the principle that "Many hands make light work".^[1]

Features

Trilateral Mining

Three separate, controllable mining heads allow for individual operators to extract resources from separate nodes and asteroids, or to focus their efforts on one single large deposit that needs some extra power to crack.^[1]

Mineral Pods

The Mole carries 24 collapsed mineral pods (12 SCU each) that can be dropped when full to be picked up by cargo haulers. The Mole can carry eight full pods at a time.^[1]

Crew Quarters

A utilitarian but comfortable set of crew quarters provides the necessities for the pilot and three mining operators on long and short mining trips.^[1]

Upgraded Mining Hardware

The Size 2 laser heads on the Mole's mining arms are capable of larger targets and safer mining, supported by an outsized power plant and ARGO's most intuitive control interface.^[1]

Ports

3×S4Manned Turret

2×S2VariPuck S2 Gimbal Mount

S2CF-227 Badger Repeater

S35CA 'Akura'

S1Argo MPUV Ship Armor

S3ThermalCore

S3Ginzel

S1Flight Blade

S2Huracan

S2Excelsior

S1MISC Prospector - Noise Launcher

S1MISC Prospector - Decoy Launcher

S2Surveyor

3×S2Radar

S2ComfortAir Plus

S1hardpoint_paint

Other

S1hardpoint_cargogrid_main

4×S1Controller_Mining

4×S1hardpoint_ping

8×S1Argo Ore Pod

S1hardpoint_cockpit_flair_hang

S2hardpoint_computer

S2hardpoint_battery

S2hardpoint_gravity_generator

16×S1MISC Ore Pod

Controllers

S1COMMS

S1HEAT

S1SECURITY

S1POWER

S1LIGHTS

4×S1hardpoint_controller_scanner

S1SHIELDS

S1WEAPONS

S1hardpoint_controller_missile

S1Controller_CapacitorAssignment

S1Controller_Fuel

S1hardpoint_air_traffic_controller

Crew Stations

2×S1ARGO_MOLE_SCItem_Dashboard

5×S1Seat

2×S1TRGT. STATUS

Fuel

S1Internal Tank

2×S1Internal Tank

2×S1INTK_ARGO_MOLE

Systems

S1Self Destruct Unit

2×S1hardpoint_weapon_regen_pool

Thrusters

8×S1ARGO_MOLE_Thruster_Mav_Joint

2×S1ARGO_MOLE_Thruster_VTOL

2×S1ARGO_MOLE_Thruster_Retro

2×S1ARGO_MOLE_Thruster_VTOL_Rear

4×S1ARGO_MOLE_Thruster_Main

Landing Systems

S1Default_LandingSystem

Doors & Hatches

2×S1Door

S1Door

Docking

S1DockingTube_Fuel_Ports_ARGO_MOLE

Relays

S1Relay

Model

Ship profile

Exterior

Isometric	Above	Port-side	Front	Rear	Below

Isometric	Above	Port-side	Front	Rear

Interior

Sub Deck	Technical deck	Habitation deck

Series variants

MOLE Carbon and Talus were two variants/special editions of the MOLE that had been flyable in PU since Alpha 3.8.0 in December 2019. However, in Alpha 4.7.0, March 2026, both the Carbon and the Talus editions were removed from access and replaced by a standard MOLE with respective liveries.

Although the special editions were still listed on the RSI website as of the following mini patch 4.7.1, according to CIG's comment in a related IC report,^[2] the change was intended, making them the first flyable ship/edition that was retroactively removed from access in the game.

Special editions

"Teach's Special"

Paints

"Aphorite"	"Dolivine"	"Greycat"	"Hadanite"	"Keystone"	"Lovestruck"	"Pyrotechnic"	"Shubin"

Acquisition

Buy: Yes
Rent: Yes
Pledge: Yes

System	Location	Buy	Updated	Version
Nyx	Teach's Ship Shop - Levski	9,376,760	2026-06-25	4.8.2
Stanton	New Deal - Teasa Spaceport - Lorville	8,483,740	2026-06-13	4.8.2

System	Location	Rent	Updated	Version
Stanton	Vantage Rentals - ARC-L4	223,256	2026-06-29	4.8.2
Stanton	Traveler Rentals - Cargo Center - Terra Gateway (Stanton)	223,256	2026-06-23	4.8.2
Stanton	Vantage Rentals - ARC-L2	223,256	2026-06-19	4.8.2
Stanton	Traveler Rentals - Cargo Center - Port Tressler	223,256	2026-06-19	4.8.2
Stanton	Traveler Rentals - Cargo Center - Baijini Point	223,257	2026-06-15	4.8.2
Nyx	Teach's Rentals - Levski	234,419	2026-06-14	4.8.2
Stanton	Vantage Rentals - ARC-L1	223,256	2026-06-14	4.8.2
Stanton	Traveler Rentals - Cargo Center - Seraphim	223,256	2026-06-12	4.8.2
Nyx	Traveler Rentals - Stanton Gateway (Nyx)	223,256	2026-06-12	4.8.2
Nyx	Vantage Rentals - Stanton Gateway (Nyx)	223,256	2026-06-12	4.8.2
Stanton	Vantage Rentals - Nyx Gateway (Stanton)	223,257	2026-06-09	4.8.2
Stanton	Traveler Rentals - Cargo Center - Nyx Gateway (Stanton)	223,257	2026-06-09	4.8.2
Stanton	Traveler Rentals - Cargo Center - Pyro Gateway (Stanton)	212,093	2026-06-02	4.8.2
Stanton	Vantage Rentals - Lorville	212,094	2026-05-31	4.8.2
Stanton	Vantage Rentals - Terra Gateway (Stanton)	223,256	2026-05-31	4.8.2
Stanton	Vantage Rentals - Pyro Gateway (Stanton)	212,093	2026-05-31	4.8.2
Stanton	Vantage Rentals - CRU-L1	223,256	2026-05-28	4.8.2
Stanton	Traveler Rentals - Cargo Center - Everus Harbor	212,094	2026-05-24	4.8.2
Nyx	Traveler Rentals - Pyro Gateway (Nyx)	223,257	2026-05-23	4.8.2
Nyx	Vantage Rentals - Pyro Gateway (Nyx)	223,257	2026-05-23	4.8.2
Stanton	Vantage Rentals - MIC-L2	223,256	2026-05-21	4.8.2
Stanton	Vantage Rentals - HUR-L1	223,256	2026-05-21	4.8.2
Stanton	Vantage Rentals - MIC-L1	223,256	2026-05-21	4.8.2
Stanton	Vantage Rentals - HUR-L2	223,256	2026-05-21	4.8.2
Stanton	Vantage Rentals - MIC-L5	223,256	2026-05-19	4.8.2
Pyro	Vantage Rentals - Stanton Gateway (Pyro)	223,257	2026-05-16	4.8.2
Pyro	Traveler Rentals - Cargo Center - Stanton Gateway (Pyro)	223,257	2026-05-16	4.8.2
Pyro	Traveler Rentals - Nyx Gateway (Pyro)	223,257	2026-05-15	4.8.2
Pyro	Vantage Rentals - Nyx Gateway (Pyro)	223,257	2026-05-15	4.8.2

Lore

Gallery

Development

2019-11-23	The MOLE was first revealed to CitizenCon 2019 attendees during the "Ship Talk" panel in the Croshaw Auditorium. This panel wasn't streamed live but made available to everyone later on YouTube. At this stage, the Mole was already fairly far into production state, because Cloud Imperium announced that it would be made available for Alpha 3.8.0, due later that year.
2019-11-27	During the Intergalactic Aerospace Expo a few days after CitizenCon 2019, the Mole was also featured in a Whitley's Guide episode. Here, presenter Jax McCleary gained exclusive access to the Mole.^[3]
2019-12-21	The ship was made playable for Alpha 3.8.0.^[4]
2026-03-25	In Alpha 4.7.0, both the Talus and Carbon editions were removed from access and replaced with a standard MOLE with their respective liveries. Although the special editions were still listed on the RSI website as of the following mini patch 4.7.1, according to CIG's comment in a related IC report, the change was intended,^[5] making them the first flyable ship/edition that was retroactively removed from access in the game.

Trivia

Moles encompass numerous species of small, subterranean creatures that inhabit various regions across the globe. Renowned for their exceptional tunneling abilities, moles are diminutive predators that construct intricate systems of tunnels and pathways through leaf litter, plant life, and soil.^[6]