For the longest time I had misinterpreted this image as a concept for a flying wing NX-01 (it's really a concept for launching an NX prototype concept before it was made Phoenix style).
What if the NX-01's final form was this, with its saucer as a flying wing lander, and the warp power train as something which ejects to stay in orbit? Also, no shuttles, and no transporter, but perhaps the ability to land and take off vertically, and land on land or water. Would that be too primitive for the period, or better than what we got?

What if the NX-01's final form was this, with its saucer as a flying wing lander, and the warp power train as something which ejects to stay in orbit? Also, no shuttles, and no transporter, but perhaps the ability to land and take off vertically, and land on land or water. Would that be too primitive for the period, or better than what we got?