According to the Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion concept, a spacecraft will 'ride' the solar wind, which itself travels at speeds of 350 to 800 km/s. Studies indicate that this will allow a craft to attain unprecedented speeds for deep space travel. To achieve this, the proposed method will employ an inflated, magnetized plasma bubble, or 'mini-magnetosphere' which will envelope the spacecraft during its inner solar system boost phase. The magnetic field will be sustained by a solenoid coil, and the size of the accompanying magnetic bubble will be greatly increased as plasma is injected into it. A computer simulation of the inflation of this 'mini-magnetosphere' is shown in Movie 1. As it increases in cross sectional area, more solar wind plasma will be deflected around it, and more force will be imparted to it by the solar wind. This bubble will be like no other -- extending 15 - 20 km in space.

Another way to look at the system is through the plasma currents that it generates, shown in Movie 2. These currents are embedded in the solar wind and will produce a stong magnetic field that will push the spacecraft solenoild to accelerate it forward.