images

Bussard Interstellar Ramjet Engine - Artist view

by

Nasa/Novapix

Reference

e-ill02-00013

Date

2007-01-04

The Bussard Interstellar Ramjet engine concept uses interstellar hydrogen scooped up from its environment as the spacecraft passes by to provide propellant mass. The hydrogen is then ionized and then collected by an electromagnetic field. In this image, an onboard laser is used to heat the plasma, and the laser or electron beam is used to trigger fusion pulses thereby creating propulsion.