An asteroid hopper or Verpine asteroid hopper was an unusual space-capable short-range repulsorlift vehicle designed by the Verpine to operate in dense asteroid belts, such as the Roche asteroid field. Rather than relying on ion engines, a Verpine hopper "bounced" from asteroid to asteroid using its repulsor engines, relying on gyroscopic stabilization to minimize discomfort for its pilot and passengers.