Pods, ride shotgun

[Captain_Bravo]

That's a great idea, Sundance! Let one of the seats be the technician, and able to use tools on the pod while inside. Fire Extinguisher to put people out, Welder to repair damage on the go, crowbar to swap out modules without having to exit the pod and watch it fly away. The last one should still require the engine to be turned off first, and any modules you remove will float off behind you in space, but you can maintain your momentum and still fix the pod if you don't have a spacesuit.