No. You must use a free slot on your base and begin the core upgrade module. You can then set about feeding your base with the necessary commodities to complete this module. There is one item required that is unobtainable in game, the upgrade blueprint. You acquire this by posting a request in this forum, using the template there. A server admin will then place the blueprint on the ship you specify. Log into the base and sell the blueprint. Once all of the upgrade materials and the blueprint are consumed, the base will automatically upgrade to core 2.