External cargo pod

Some ships come standard with external cargo pods, while others include them as an option or aftermarket add-on. External cargo pods are self-contained cargo holds, and cannot be entered from the interior of the ship. Few external pods contain life support systems, because the additional weight of such systems makes the whole external pod concept untenable.

One aspect of external pods of interest to smugglers is that they can be jettisoned at a moment's notice from the cockpit, allowing them to deliver illicit cargoes to a drop site without landing or to ditch incriminating evidence if pursued or cornered. Pirates like hilling ships with external pods (making off with the cargo is relatively easy in such cases), so less combative captains prefer to do without the extra space.