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Fusion: The Uncertain Certainty

By Richard F. Post | November 12, 2024

An artist’s conception of a 1,000 megawatt mirror machine fusion reactor with a direct energy converter, as it appeared on the cover of the Bulletin in October, 1971. Image courtesy of R.F. Post

Fusion: The Uncertain Certainty

By Richard F. Post | November 12, 2024

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Daniel Jassby
Daniel Jassby
11 days ago

Post’s 1971 “fusion power timetable” is Fig. 10 in his article, with the caption “The timetable for fusion energy to go .…. to an everyday commercial reality.”

Just increment the time axis by 50 years, and the timetable would be applicable today, 53 years later.

In other words, there’s been a slippage of about one year per year in reaching predicted milestones.

That’s why it always seems that “fusion power is 30 years away.”

There’s no realistic evidence of any convergence.