Probably the least important suggestion of all time because more likely silly than actually useful but I think it be cool! Landing on an Asteroid! 
Now, I can't deny the inspiration comes straight out of Star Wars because of two very exceptional scenes from both Empire Strikes Back (Millennium Falcon evading Tie Fighters in an Asteroid Field) and Attack of the Clones (Jango Fett chasing Obi-Wan in an Asteroid Field). But would that not be cool to be able to land on an asteroid!? But how would that translate in Elite Dangerous... after all, E is moreso on realism than it is on space fantasy.
So I'm thinking a combination of things and it almost certainly means changes to asteroid belts too... which I think will not happen. but anyhow, a module with a grapple-landing feature to attach to surfaces in motion would be the first step. You'd have to match the speed of the asteroids rotation as you land and then grab the surface with the landing gear module. And that sounds simple enough.
The hard part is for this to be practical and useful would probably mean more dynamic size differences among asteroids in much larger proportions. Some asteroids to be huge... some of them with holes to fly through. Maybe even mining lasers actually cut holes into asteroids and possibly more denser materials in the center than at its edge (though that would be even more crazy talk in terms of development I think). Maybe factoring in prospecting asteroids or other explorative features?
And then ofcourse, the Star Wars fantasy itself.... being able to evade chase by flying around a HUGE asteroid and landing on the otherside, turn off the ship and your blimp disappears on radar! :O
But alas this is probably just a dream. But a good dream to ponder at that!
Now, I can't deny the inspiration comes straight out of Star Wars because of two very exceptional scenes from both Empire Strikes Back (Millennium Falcon evading Tie Fighters in an Asteroid Field) and Attack of the Clones (Jango Fett chasing Obi-Wan in an Asteroid Field). But would that not be cool to be able to land on an asteroid!? But how would that translate in Elite Dangerous... after all, E
is moreso on realism than it is on space fantasy.So I'm thinking a combination of things and it almost certainly means changes to asteroid belts too... which I think will not happen. but anyhow, a module with a grapple-landing feature to attach to surfaces in motion would be the first step. You'd have to match the speed of the asteroids rotation as you land and then grab the surface with the landing gear module. And that sounds simple enough.
The hard part is for this to be practical and useful would probably mean more dynamic size differences among asteroids in much larger proportions. Some asteroids to be huge... some of them with holes to fly through. Maybe even mining lasers actually cut holes into asteroids and possibly more denser materials in the center than at its edge (though that would be even more crazy talk in terms of development I think). Maybe factoring in prospecting asteroids or other explorative features?
And then ofcourse, the Star Wars fantasy itself.... being able to evade chase by flying around a HUGE asteroid and landing on the otherside, turn off the ship and your blimp disappears on radar! :O
But alas this is probably just a dream. But a good dream to ponder at that!
