Aries planetary rocket

Designed as a sleek space/atmospheric rocket the Aries was commonly used to ferry either light cargo or a small number of passengers from world to world within a star system as it featured no Neilson-Cobarro drive. They were also commonly used as personal space yachts by those who could afford them. They had a primary crew of 3 but could be operated for short voyages by only a single pilot. Passenger carrying ability ranged from 3 to 12 depending on the particular ship's layout.

The Aries and other similar craft did not feature a landing ring or landing pads to allow for vertical lift-offs or set-downs. Instead craft of this type, owing to their lightweight construction, were able to use a nega-grav cushion to essentially act as landing gear. This had the benefit of being able to land on a planetary surface in a horizontal, rather than vertical, resting position. The drawback, however, was that a moderately flat area with no obstructions was needed for takeoff or landing.