Bussard Fusion Ramjets -- Solving the Drag Problem

[Eudoxia]

Maybe the fusion engine could be integrated with an antimatter-catalyzed ramscoop-fusion engine, and instead of dumping the whole thing you'd dump the tanks. And for arrival at the target star, you could remove the sail and add more fuel instead, or use a magnetic sail -- I mean, the ramscoop *is* a magnetic sail, and it can be used for maneuvering inside the target system like a solar sail, only against stellar wind.

[EmpireStar]

Yea: one engine that burns Deuterium & Tritium on the way up to relativistic speeds; eject tanks. Then the engine burns interstellar (ionized) hydrogen through the ram scoop until the ship shuts down and glides. Ram scoop is again engaged for drag effect and to store as much H2 as possible in tanks at relativistic speeds to be the fuel for the first burn going home. Then flip & short burn. Same engine burns all fuel. The sacrificed mass could be used to carry a extra engine.
Ram scoop stellar sail - Sure! Soon as they shed delta v to less than relativistic speeds. Should be enough ionized hydrogen in the stellar wind to ram scoop sail in the system, yes? Include side burn engines (exhaust off main) to steer the sail to optimum position.
Now, how do they land, or are they just a survey ship?

[editline]17th October 2011[/editline]

[editline]17th October 2011[/editline]

[IMG]http://filesmelt.com/dl/SpeedRelativeTime001.jpg[/IMG]

[editline]17th October 2011[/editline]

[Tuskin]

Hate to bring Science Fiction into this. But isn't this what Ships in Star Trek use to collect fuel?
Its nice to know they liked to use real science sometimes in those shows.

[Missing User]

isn't this a fairly old concept? I remember hearing about this about 3 years ago...

[Tuskin]

[QUOTE=krazipanda;32838448]isn't this a fairly old concept? I remember hearing about this about 3 years ago...[/QUOTE]

The Bussard Concept has been around since the 60's

[EmpireStar]

They use Warp-drive. Hypothetical faster than light drive.

[Tuskin]

[QUOTE=EmpireStar;32838503]They use Warp-drive. Hypothetical faster than light drive.[/QUOTE]

No, I meant their Fuel Collection. They used Bussard Collectors and Ram Jets, that is what is on the front of their Nacelles in Star Trek.

[Mr.T]

The song in the OP was awesome, can you link to some other songs that have the same style in it?

On topic, this new propulsion system is awesome. but doesn't it mean it goes only one way?