Sun scoop explained

A Sun scoop or sunscoop is a refueling technique for starships seen in science fiction. It involves a literal scooping of plasma directly from the outer surface of a star to use as fuel. Doing so would be extremely dangerous and only used in emergency situations.

In fiction

• Ray Bradbury's 1953 short story "The Golden Apples of the Sun"^[1]
• In the final novel of Peter F. Hamilton's Night's Dawn trilogy, an alien race, inhabiting massive "cities" orbiting a red giant, uses ships equipped with electromagnetic ramscoops as an alternative to planetary mining.^[2]
• "42", a 2007 episode of Doctor Who
• Elite (1984) – space trading video game
• Elite Dangerous (2015) – multiplayer space flight simulation game
• "Light", a first-season episode of Stargate Universe^[3] and others, including "Blockade"
• Rendezvous with Rama, an Arthur C. Clarke novella

Notes and References

1. Web site: John's Book Reviews: The Golden Apples of the Sun. McDonald. John Q.. 12 June 2006. 2009-10-27. Finally, the title story, The Golden Apples of the Sun, shows us a fiery trip to the surface of the Sun to scoop up a bit of its luminous surface....
2. Book: Hamilton, Peter F.. The Naked God. 2000. 0-446-52567-7. 787–788.
3. Web site: Home > Stargate Universe – Season One Images > Screen Captures > Light (105). Oct 25, 2009. GateWorld.net. 2009-10-27. Screenshot of Destiny extending scoops.