Named
after the 20th century physicist and mathematician Robert W. Bussard, the
Bussard Ramscoop in capable of collecting low-grade interstellar matter trough a
series of high-energy magnetic coils. A Bussard Collector is found at the
forward end of each of the warp drive nacelles. The Assembly consists of three
main elements: an ionizing beam emitter IBE, which charges neutral particles in
space; a magnetic field generator / collector MFG / C, a set of coils that cast
a magnetic "net" ahead of the ship and pull in the charged particles;
and the continuous cycle fractionators CCF, which separates the incoming gases.
The interstellar matter collected can be used as fuel in the event a deuterium
tanker cannot reach the ship for normal refueling.