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From: KFL@MC.LCS.MIT.EDU ("Keith F. Lynch")
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Fusion
Message-ID: <[MC.LCS.MIT.EDU].846118.860310.KFL>
Date: Mon, 10-Mar-86 22:03:01 EST
Article-I.D.: <[MC.LCS.MIT.EDU].846118.860310.KFL>
Posted: Mon Mar 10 22:03:01 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Mar-86 04:47:49 EST
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    From: ST401385%BROWNVM.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu

    The impression I've gotten ... is that ... fusion reactors built on the
    outgrowth of any of the current technology paths would be huge, expensive,
    unwieldy, have extremely low power densities, become rapidly radioactive
    due to stray neutron flux, and produce electricity only at exorbitantly
    high cost.

  A number of things would be different in space.  For thrust, open
ended reactors would be needed.  No research into these has been done
on Earth since air would get in and ruin the reaction.

    (On the other hand, there are plenty of recent advances in photovoltaic
    power systems...)

  This is good, but we need fusion too.  Solar power is not much use
when you need ENROMOUS amounts of energy or when you need it far from
the Sun.  Interstellar spaceships should be fusion powered.
								...Keith