Mercurian Spacecraft in the 29th Century (part 1)
Mercury, which belongs to the larger space-state called 'Selenia' is the biggest exporter of metals and most populated world in the solar system. Despite this, however, many people who live there do not venture beyond their home planet, or even walk the surface to begin with.
Still, there are some who need to leave every now and then. The largest groups of people who travel to space are mine-workers going to Venus, diplomats, and lastly pilots of cargo ships, although most cargo is delivered autonomously.
Most surface to orbit spacecraft are rather archaic in nature. They use mostly chemical propellants in the form of Aluminium-LOX hybrid engines, which, while not being efficient compared to the special nuclear drives often used in the outer solar system, are still cheap, simple and easy to control. These engines usually come in the form of hexagonal aluminium rod-shaped motors, which are supplied with oxygen from separate tanks. These motors control their throttle individually by adjusting their oxygen intake to allow for thrust vector control.
These vehicles usually are protected by thermal protection blankets, or have special parasols which they deploy in orbit.
Depicted here are four examples of surface-orbit spacecraft.
I. Surface-orbit mini-shuttle, usually used to send cargo pilots to their cargo ships from the surface.
II. Autonomous satellite launcher/retriever.
III. Surface-orbit bus, which is used to send Venusian mine-workers to an interplanetary ship in orbit.
IV. 'Yacht' shuttle. For sending diplomats, aristocrats, and other members of the intellectual class to orbit.
