A wide variety of chemical or ion-drive space-rated vehicles exist capable of short-duration, local proximity use rather than cross-system flights.

Beltercraft: a bewildering variety of ad-hoc engineered (rigged) thrusters and frames cobbled together by Belters for quick and dirty operations around their outposts and colonies.

Cluster rock hoppers: open-frame chassis used to haul passengers and small cargo such as tools or extended life support supplies between the various rocks in an orbiting cluster.

Hardsuits: utility armor for specific EVA investigation or repair missions

Ring skimmers: heavily shielded or armored chassis capable of ferrying passengers or cargo within or through densely packed ring debris safely

Workpods: utility vehicles carrying tools and bulk repair supplies useful for general station or spacecraft repair EVAs

Spacecraft capable of inter-orbital delta-V mainly use Span Drive, a Slower Than Light (STL) drive system that led to the development of Faster than Light drives which provides enough efficiency and thrust to bring in-system travel distances into economical reach.

Cargo train / cycler: A semi-automated cluster of cargo modules which follow a precisely laid out complex inter-orbit path picking up and dropping off modules on regular schedules between long established stations, outposts, and colonies across the system.

Inter-orbit Shuttles: long-duration flight capable passenger and cargo shuttles

Navy gunships: High delta-V interceptor craft used in armed response to piracy or inter-corporate conflict

Navy patrol frigates: Long-duration armed craft patrolling designated station, outpost, or colony groups

Navy rescue: High delta-V response vehicles trading heavy arms for emergency medical and response capabilities

Platforms or Rigs: mobile maker or breaker craft which can move to worksites as needed for manufacturing, mining, refining, or salvage

Research / science base: mobile temporary outposts used for scientific expeditions and research missions

Survey lander: Exploration craft used to find or verify points of interest before dispatching science or mining platforms

Tanker Gas / Liquid: Bulk cargo transport of various liquids, fuels, and liquefied gasses necessary to support the stations, outposts, and colonies across the system.

Tug: Bulk cargo hauler to tow platforms, refineries, or non-mobile structures to their worksites

Cluster rock hoppers
Ring skimmers
Station workpods
Hardsuits
In-system cargo shuttle
In-system passenger shuttle
Belters
Navy Patrols / Frigates
Navy gunship
Navy rescue
Cargo train / cycler
Tug
Mining
Survey lander
Tanker Gas / Liquid
Research / Science base
Manufacture / Salvage

▲ Chronology