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Bussard Ram scoop |
The bussard ram scoop is designed to collect the small amounts
of free interstellar hydrogen as a emergency replacement fuel to
the ships deuterium supplies, when the ship is out of re-supply
range or in distress.
The bussard ram scoops uses magnetic fields and ionising
radiation to draw hydrogen atoms into the collectors. Even
though the density of interstellar matter is very low, one atom
per cubic centimetre, travelling at warp velocity can produces a
sizable amount of captured matter. The collectors can gather
enough material to supply the ships deuterium need, although
extended operation is not recommended. During warp flight the
collector uses magnetic fields to slow atoms down before they
reach the collector. The deflector shields must also be adjusted
during bussard operation to allow hydrogen atoms through the
shields.
Other uses of the collectors have included releasing gas streams
into space. The collectors have also been used as weapons to
release unstable gas in front of enemy ships. |
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