parapente wrote:Thx btw Revelation on you tube link on fusion work around the World as of now.Interesting watch.Wont be in my day sadly (65 yrs) but I so hope they can crack it as (obviously) it will totally change how the World progresses in the future. Here's hoping!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn1SJOPgewo was interesting too.
The good news is the high degree of confidence that fusion will eventually work.
The bad news is the time scale (~2050s at best) and the cost ( ITER will be > 20B EUR, not sure how much DEMO will be ).
It's hard to see how it ever will be affordable. How much can you expect that many superconducting magnets of that size to go down in price?
bikerthai wrote:There are two historical examples that will guide us on what going to Mars/Moon may entail.
1) Will there be anything of monetary value we can get from there? If yes, then it will be like the colonization of North America or Australia. The distance will be long for the technology, and many will die. But as long as some company can make a profit, it will be done.
2) If there is no profit to be had, then it will be like Antartica. There will be a small present for research, but no one will live there permanently.
Of course one have to take in to account the difference in technical challenge and technical capabilities. But the presidence has already been established.
bt
That's a good analogy.
The thing is you do have to start by building the research station to see if it's ever going to become a viable colony.
As above, I'm a pessimist when it comes to Mars.
The difference to me between Mars and fusion is it's pretty clear to me why we'd keep trying to make fusion work.
