Here is more information on potential diskships.

http://www.astronautix.com/craft/bonaucer.htm
http://www.astronautix.com/craftfam/lenicles.htm

A question. Would a submerged maglev system work, so as to avoid any landing gear? The landing strip would be a shallow lake or harbor. Water touchdown--and perhaps suspended in air while allowed to cool, then lowered to the water surface.

We all seen the levitating super conductor disks, so an all cryogenic HLLV saucer with some coils might do the same. Water is broken down for fuel, and also supports the craft.

Less violent than most splash-down recoveries or hitting the maglev rail hard...

For a heavier payload, a tether from a passing asteroid may assit in lofting such a disk shaped craft--which would lend itself to outsized, circular payloads like lenses, SPSS systems, etc. Such a wide craft might also be used as a base aor habitat on the moon.

http://www.liftport.com/component/op...58/topic,708.0