So what're you saying Paddy ? UK's back in the space business , is it ? Or is this another Richard Branson we're talking about here , he of hyperloop infamy .
London, UK (SPX) Jul 06, 2023 - UK aerospace company Pulsar Fusion has started constructing the largest practical nuclear fusion rocket engine ever built. The 8-metre fusion chamber is being assembled in Bletchley, England a
A UK nuclear fusion company based in Bletchley, has just developed and tested its first launch capable, high-power chemical rocket engine in the UK. The...
There's dime a dozen 'fusion startups' popping up around the world with a few million $ in hand claiming that workable, sustainable fusion is right around the corner. On the other hand, large scale multinational endeavours like ITER with tens of billions in funding are doubtful of sustainable fusion even by 2050.
It should be noted that ITER is going in a very proven, traditional way of doing fusion (Tokamak) while a lot of these startups are trying a bunch of different things which are, to varying degrees, uncharted territory (stellarators, magneto-inertial etc.)...while I wouldn't rule out that thinking out of the box could prove to be successful, I simply have to say that this field of science is the sort of thing where solving one engineering problem presents you with two more.
Even with a base concept that was worked on for 50+ years like the Tokamak, ITER still runs into engineering & science problems that require solving before the next step can be taken.
I'm never one to discourage fresh thinking in STEM, especially wrt energy...but I'm always on my toes about who could be the next Theranos.
I know these outlandish science teams are just grifters (like Mars One) but, in a world where so many are obsessed with religion and petty wars, it still gives me hope that at least some people are considering a space faring future.