Sun scoop

Last updated February 20, 2025

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

References

↑ McDonald, John Q. (12 June 2006). "John's Book Reviews: The Golden Apples of the Sun" . Retrieved 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...
↑ Hamilton, Peter F. (2000). The Naked God . Warner Books. pp. 787–788. ISBN 0-446-52567-7.
↑ "Home > Stargate Universe – Season One Images > Screen Captures > Light (105)". GateWorld.net. Oct 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-27. Screenshot of Destiny extending scoops.

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[1] McDonald, John Q. (12 June 2006). "John's Book Reviews: The Golden Apples of the Sun" . Retrieved 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] Hamilton, Peter F. (2000). The Naked God . Warner Books. pp. 787–788. ISBN 0-446-52567-7.

[3] "Home > Stargate Universe – Season One Images > Screen Captures > Light (105)". GateWorld.net. Oct 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-27. Screenshot of Destiny extending scoops.

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