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Wasn't ITER supposed to be built by now? DEMO was supposed to start in 2033 as the successor to ITER.

• willis936 6y ago
  It depends on which baseline you're referring to and how many more times the US would back out of its financial commitment after that baseline was made.
• Veedrac 6y ago
  ITER, like many oversized government programs where funding and structure are almost entirely political, has had delays. First plasma (not full power) was originally scheduled for 2016, and is now 2025.
  • gary_0 6y ago
    See also: The SLS program (the "Senate Launch System").
• cygx 6y ago
  If you try to coordinate design and manufacturing among 35 participating states, delays tend to happen. Perhaps also noteworthy from a historical perspective is that the whole thing was proposed by the Soviet Union, which doesn't even exist anymore. The US also pulled out of the collaboration in '98, necessitating a redesign; they rejoined in 2003, but congress periodically tries to pull the plug...