Environment & Energy

longship

(40,416 posts)

11. Fusion, unfortunately, is probably a long way off.

Tue Nov 5, 2013, 08:43 PM

Nov 2013

The trouble is that you have to put so much energy in to get anything out, that it's fucking difficult. Of course, once you have crossed the barrier, you get a lot of energy out. They don't call it the Strong Nuclear Force for nothing.

The issue is complexity. One wants simple things in space, especially when one doesn't have a Montgomery Scott on board (who can perform miracles because he always multiplies his time estimates by four).

That's why solar sails and ramjets are attractive. BTW, the Planetary Society has a solar sail about ready to test.

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Thorium vehicle will run 100 years on 8 grams of fuel [View all] OnlinePoker Nov 2013 OP

Won't take long for CFLDem Nov 2013 #1

Sorry, but bunk johnd83 Nov 2013 #2

100% WRONG!! PamW Nov 2013 #5

I think you misunderstand my point johnd83 Nov 2013 #7

100% WRONG PamW Nov 2013 #16

The thorium reactors use a particle accelerator johnd83 Nov 2013 #17

WRONG AGAIN!! PamW Nov 2013 #20

There is plenty of water to moderate neutrons in a damaged reactor johnd83 Nov 2013 #25

Reactor Physics 101 PamW Nov 2013 #29

The other advantage of thorium is the decay products become inert much faster johnd83 Nov 2013 #30

Actually it is NOT a huge assumption... PamW Nov 2013 #35

I still don't understand your point johnd83 Nov 2013 #36

Criticality in non-operating - but NOT in melted. PamW Nov 2013 #39

You are 100% WRONG johnd83 Nov 2013 #38

100% WRONG!!! PamW Nov 2013 #40

Yes, I was going to remark about the five ton engine it would take Warpy Nov 2013 #27

I want a nuclear vacuum cleaner! longship Nov 2013 #3

Those are different technologies johnd83 Nov 2013 #4

Yup! They are talking about a Sterling engine now. longship Nov 2013 #6

The Voyager spacecraft only hase a few hundred watts of power johnd83 Nov 2013 #8

Voyager has shut down its cameras. Long ago. longship Nov 2013 #9

I think for the next 100 years or so it is going to be mostly manned/unmanned craft johnd83 Nov 2013 #10

Fusion, unfortunately, is probably a long way off. longship Nov 2013 #11

Fusion power is not really that far off johnd83 Nov 2013 #12

But the technology is not yet practical. longship Nov 2013 #13

The technology I linked to is a magnetic containment plasma system johnd83 Nov 2013 #14

Yes! And I've heard of another in Europe. longship Nov 2013 #15

Correct. PamW Nov 2013 #22

Fusion propulsion is a lot easier than electricity generation bananas Nov 2013 #18

If you're going to use it for propulsion, yes. longship Nov 2013 #19

Not quite... PamW Nov 2013 #21

I never said that one would get to light speeds. longship Nov 2013 #23

Look at momentum per unit energy PamW Nov 2013 #41

Thanks. longship Nov 2013 #42

That's if your concern is momentum per unit energy; but often it's not, in rockets muriel_volestrangler Nov 2013 #43

Let's examine TOTAL mass.. PamW Nov 2013 #44

Well, yes, that's the point - you use nuclear power, or solar (ie external) muriel_volestrangler Nov 2013 #45

IF Polywell Fusion works VASIMIR is DOA FogerRox Nov 2013 #46

Does anyone have the faintest idea what process is being claimed here? muriel_volestrangler Nov 2013 #24

I didn't get that either johnd83 Nov 2013 #26

"And he hasn’t released any papers, only press releases." arcane1 Nov 2013 #28

I'll try to post on it later - basically, you can increase decay rate by jiggling it with a laser bananas Nov 2013 #33

Finally found a somewhat relevant hit bananas Nov 2013 #34

Thanks - that gives us a theory that the laser is relevant muriel_volestrangler Nov 2013 #37

Oh, I agree, it's as credible as his "USEING HELYXZION TECHNOLOGY WE CAN CURE “ALL” DISEASE" bananas Nov 2013 #48

I forgot that one. kristopher Nov 2013 #49

Not the faintest. FogerRox Nov 2013 #47

It won't work, period. NNadir Nov 2013 #31

Why, Are we still thinking in individual cars, individual propulsion systems, ... CRH Nov 2013 #32