TL8 Phoenix-L spaceplane for Mars

[Horizon's Verge] This experimental design is intended to allow 
extended low-altitude surveys of Mars (with orbital power) followed by 
a single vertical landing and return to orbit.

Crew: 2 total. 2 crew stations covering vehicle control (piloting), 3 
communicators, 6 navigation aids, 3 sensors.

Subassemblies: Vehicle +7, Body +7, Skids +4. 

P&P: 150-kW NPU (0.5 year duration; short term access), 40,000 lbs. 
thrust laser turbofan (short term access), two 20,000 lbs. thrust laser 
rockets (Isp 1,500, delta-V 8,237 mph; short term access). 

Fuel: 3,250 gal ablative plastic (fire 0). 

Occ: two normal crew stations (improved access), seven cabins, 14-man 
full life support system
Cargo: 

Armor F    RL   B    T    U
Body  4/20 4/20 4/20 4/20 4/100
Skids 4/20 4/20 4/20 4/20 4/100

Equipment
Body: two 2,142-cf capacity vehicle bay with vehicle masss; medium 
range laser communicator (200-mile range); two extreme range radio 
communicators (100,000-mile range); two LLTVs (magnification x10); two 
AESAs (scan 17, 10-mile range; air search, non-targeting); PESA (scan 
25, 200-mile range); two flight recorders; two sets of precision 
navigation instruments; two inertial compass; two transponders; three 
small computers (complexity 2); three computer terminals.  

Statistics
Size: [LxWxH] 78'x19.5'x9.75'
Payload: 34,000 lbs.
Lwt.: 109,465 lbs.
Volume: 14,836 cf
Maint.: 8.9 hours (10.8 mh/day)
Price: $5,053,451 

HT: 7
HP: 1,315 [Body], 45 each [4xSkids]. 

Air Performance: Motive Thrust 40,000 lbs., Stall Speed 1,055 mph, Top 
Speed 1,850 mph, Terminal Velocity 3,060 mph, Glide Speed 1,224 mph, 
Glide Ratio 1.34:1, aAccel 5 mph/s, aMR 0.25, aSR 5, aDecel 1 mph/s.

Space Performance: sAccel: 0.365 G / 0.53 G (empty), sDecel: 0.365 G, 
sMR: 0.365.

Design Notes: 
TL8 extra light frame expensive materials [Vehicle].
T TL8 DR 20 expensive composite, U TL8 DR 100 expensive composite, L 
TL8 DR 20 expensive composite, R TL8 DR 20 expensive composite, F TL8 
DR 20 expensive composite, B TL8 DR 20 expensive composite [Vehicle].
Environment: 0.38 Gs, 0.01 Atm.
Payload Cost: $12,188
Vehicle Features: computerized controls, self-sealed, excellent 
streamlining.
Air Features: lifting body.
Skids: quantity 4,  retract into body.
Volume: 14,130 cf [Body], 706 cf [Skids].
Area: 3,507 sf [Body], 476 sf [Skids].
Book Options: Vehicles Expansion stall speed.