BusbyLogic
Spaceman
Ok in WingCommander I understand how they work but in real life I have read they work much differently. a Giant scoop positivly charged to attract free floating hydrogen atoms filling up the fuel tanks. The problem is at teh speeds we are able to travel we would not be able to collect enough atoms to create a positive fuel intake. Since we have inertia the longer you fire your engines the faster you will go so eventially you will reach a speed at which your intake of hydrogens atoms exceeds your expenditure, at this point you will be able to continue on your journey untill your decelerization phase.