Will we have a nuclear fusion reactor prototype in five years and a production version in ten years? Laugh if you wish, but listen up. One of the most credible publications in our industry, Aviation Week & Space Technology (AW&ST), is reporting that the folks at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works believe they can do it. Damned if I’d bet against them!
The end result could be small enough to use in many places, maybe even including large airplanes. The fusion reactor will be free of the meltdown risks of nuclear fission. Nuclear fission leaves wastes that stay radioactive forever. Nuclear fusion promises smaller amounts of waste that will be completely non-radioactive in about 100 years. Furthermore, Lockheed Martin has hopes that it might end world fuel crises for the foreseeable future.
Fuel for the fusion reactor is cheap and plentiful.
It has been said for years—decades—that nuclear fusion is expected in 20 years and always will be. I got that from AVSIG (Aviation Special Interest Group), the online aviation forum.
I studied the article in AW&ST carefully, and will be the first to tell you that I don’t understand the details at all. The expected benefits, however, are easily understood and will be a boon to humanity if the Skunk Works get it done.
