What if you ran it on the landing pads on Port Olisar or Grim Hex? You'd be in space operating it on the deck as a ground hover vehicle. Only thing I could think is that it needs atmosphere for the engine to run, like an internal combustion engine or jet engine of some kind. That or it doesn't...
In the case of being spotted and attacked by a ship, your small size is your advantage. Just take lots of evasive action and you'll be hard to hit as long as they don't have some sort of minigun, flack gun, or scattergun.
Died from Linguine poisoning, his soul goes to the Flying Spaghetti Monster for his glorious death. He'll glide with the Spaghetti Monster in the sky eternal, floppy and tasty.