I think this is a reference to the normal pattern in the tortuously slow development of practical fusion power. Despite all of the significant milestones, fusion remains about 20 years down the road, for the last 50 years.
I think this is a reference to the normal pattern in the tortuously slow development of practical fusion power. Despite all of the significant milestones, fusion remains about 20 years down the road, for the last 50 years.
Considering the funding for past 50 years has been below "fusion never" level, I think they made a great progress.
See fusion budget vs expected timelines: https://imgur.com/u-s-historical-fusion-budget-vs-1976-erda-...
Wow, I never imagined that fusion funding was that paltry. Considering the insane things that have to be built to make it work, it is very impressive what has actually gotten done.
To be fair, that's budget for magnetic confinement fusion. US has always been more interested in inertial fusion (i.e. shoot it with lasers). Likely because of synergy with military application of lasers.
The thing it, inertial confinement seems to be a dead end and has been for quite a while. At least rest of the world has decided to fund magnetic confinement (plus few oddballs with z-pinch), so I assume it's more promising approach.
It seems that the investment in fusion is incredibly tiny relative to the potential payoff and compared to other trivial or even destructive pursuits?