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I think this is a reference to the normal pattern in the tortuously slow development of practical fusion power. Despite all of the significant milestones, fusi
by K0balt 2y ago
I think this is a reference to the normal pattern in the tortuously slow development of practical fusion power. Despite all of the significant milestones, fusion remains about 20 years down the road, for the last 50 years.
- mnau 2y agoConsidering the funding for past 50 years has been below "fusion never" level, I think they made a great progress. See fusion budget vs expected timelines: https://imgur.com/u-s-historical-fusion-budget-vs-1976-erda-plan-sjH5r https://imgur.com/u-s-historical-fusion-budget-vs-1976-erda-...
- K0balt 2y agoWow, I never imagined that fusion funding was that paltry. Considering the insane things that have to be built to make it work, it is very impressive what has actually gotten done.
- mnau 2y agoTo be fair, that's budget for magnetic confinement fusion. US has always been more interested in inertial fusion (i.e. shoot it with lasers). Likely because of synergy with military application of lasers. The thing it, inertial confinement seems to be a dead end and has been for quite a while. At least rest of the world has decided to fund magnetic confinement (plus few oddballs with z-pinch), so I assume it's more promising approach.
- ilaksh 2y agoIt seems that the investment in fusion is incredibly tiny relative to the potential payoff and compared to other trivial or even destructive pursuits?