Even w thrust vectoring the motion would not be a fluid as flight is. Plus it would not be limited to the 3 axises. Also forward travel, even a thrust vectoring plane Cannot fly backwards. Please do not confuse a tail slide w/ reverse flight. Like Bulldogs, Kirby and so on.
KAm
Since Im not an aeronautical engineer, I cant comment with absolute certainty, but thrust nozzles are what every single maneuverable object in space currently uses to alter position/attitude/etc.
My use of the term "thrust vectoring" was probably a poor choice as it reminds me more of traditional thrust vectoring founds on some 5th Gen fighters. Its the maneuvering nozzles that I am referring to.
If an object is moving straight ahead and simultaneously kills its forward thrust and fires a nozzle located on the horizontal, in the nose section, it could just as easily fly backwards in the blink of an eye.
The problem with instantaneous maneuvering is us. The human body is subjected to G's because the object in which they are sitting is moving and subject to course changes. Flight resembling that seen in an atmosphere could, theoretically, be adopted to reduce the risk of fatigue and/or severe injury to the pilot. An instantaneous change of course with no significant change of speed in the new direction would be no different than driving a car into a brick wall at 50MPH... times two.
...or... its a television show/movie/video game and the director wants to portray something that looks familiar to the audience. In the absence of atmosphere, hearing the sound of lasers, phasers, etc, etc, is even more silly. With no atmosphere to transmit the displacement made by sound waves, you wouldnt hear squat.... Buuuuuut, audiences like to hear their explosions.
