Former LLNL employee here: You're partially correct on accident. It _is_ single use, but not in the way you think. The NIF facility was built for the express p

Former LLNL employee here: You're partially correct on accident. It _is_ single use, but not in the way you think. The NIF facility was built for the express purpose of nuclear weapon design, and any fusion science that comes out of it should be considered a happy accident. I can assure you that very nearly 100% of the people working at the NIF have Q level or higher clearance. The costs are absolutely astronomical.