Detachable nose cone

Computer control cockpit for Martian Excursion Vehicle

Living accomodation and science
laboratories on each side of the
cockpit

Retractable rocket launcher

Abort mission emergency capsule

Rocket (each side) for jettisoning nose cone

Port twin antenna retracted

Lock-on mechanism securing the M.E.V to the main body

Retracted caterpillar tracks descend for planetary exploration

Command centre, for use when the
M.E.V. has left the body in orbit

Retracted stub wing used to 'skip' main body
clear of atmosphere if in grazing orbit

Undercarriage shown in retracted position

Radio remote control units and autopilots
to control the lift-body when detached

Bank of five jets to control the manoeuverability
of the lift-body on glide-path return

De-icing and refrigeration units on all leading surfaces

Fuselage removed to show the turboram-jet

Wing fuel tanks

Hydraulically operated elevators

Hinge enabling the wing tip to be in dropped
position for take-off, so that the undercarriage,
retracted against the booster jet, is at ground
level

Booster jet

Main body – behind the passenger deck –
a complex of fuel tanks and auxiliaries

Air intake and compressors; if it is necessary to
use the main motors in the atmosphere, these allow
air to be used as an oxidant, leaving the liquid
oxygen in the fuel tanks for space propulsion

Firing chambers

Retracting tail fin

Bank of three main propulsion units

Bank of five secondary propulsion units

Firing chambers of the secondary bank of propulsion units

Retracted stub wing used to 'skip' main body
clear of atmosphere if in grazing orbit

Air intake and compressors for the
secondary bank of propulsion units

Second wing with lower bank of jets; in case of damage to
the forward half of Zero X, the back half can detach itself
just behind the forward wing at the main passenger deck,
and continue independently