New engine being developed by boeing

[Tradewind]

Thought that was a fission reaction? Or did I get turned around at Albuquerque?

Hydrogen bombs are fusion driven by fusing hydrogen isotopes triggered by a fission reaction.

[GodlyBob]

Okay, fission, then fusion.

I can do science, me!

[Tradewind]

little boom, then bigger boom!

[Reeve]

little boom, then bigger boom!

Little boom, Massive boom, then absurdly massive boom.

[Theinquisition]

Problem with fusion is that it generally takes more energy to do it than you get out of it

I think that's if you are trying to control the reaction and contain it, IDK if that's the case here.

I'm not a physics major, so im sure someone more qualified can answer that question.

[Jaxi]

Yeah. Too bad that a lot of this technology is going to start coming from areas that actually fricking invest in science such as Europe and Japan.

As in research and development? We're still number one for federal spending in that field, not to mention investment from private organizations like the Gates Foundation.

[belfpala]

It's a pretty sad commentary when you can patent something that you can't get to work.

I don't see it much differently from an Intent To Use trademark. In any case, the patents are public records. That means others can either try to negotiate a way to use, or develop their own (different) version. The real shame would be keeping it as an Industry Secret.

[Tradewind]

I think that's if you are trying to control the reaction and contain it, IDK if that's the case here.

I'm not a physics major, so im sure someone more qualified can answer that question.

Since there's a pretty good example of what happens in an uncontrolled fusion reaction on the other page, I'm guessing they'd need to be controlling it somehow

[Elegiac]

I think I'll go ahead and patent a nuclear fusion powered smartphone tomorrow. 1 mm thick, 6"x3" with rounded edges.

I'd buy it, totally.

[Theinquisition]

Since there's a pretty good example of what happens in an uncontrolled fusion reaction on the other page, I'm guessing they'd need to be controlling it somehow

Lol, I'm sure it involves lots of math, my least favorite subject (im decent at it, I just hate doing it)

[PC2]

Yeah. Too bad that a lot of this technology is going to start coming from areas that actually fricking invest in science such as Europe and Japan.

Simply buying things like silicon solar panels is not really "investing in science". By that standard buying a modern combustion engine and injecting fuel in it could be considered investing in science. Basic scientific research is what eventually advances tech and no Japan is not investing as much as the US. As far as Europe, they do have a higher population and a slightly bigger combined economy so it wouldn't be surprising. Of course they are not quite as integrated as the United States.

[Tradewind]

Lol, I'm sure it involves lots of math, my least favorite subject (im decent at it, I just hate doing it)

Unless their plan is just to detonate thermonuclear planes in the atmosphere.

"Boeing, meet your maker"

[belfpala]

Unless their plan is just to detonate thermonuclear planes in the atmosphere.

"Boeing, meet your maker"

Here you go! Hold on to your butt! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projec...ar_propulsion)

[Tradewind]

Here you go! Hold on to your butt! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projec...ar_propulsion)

lol yes the space bullet

[dstroy123]

This is just a fancier version of the ion thrusters which have hundreds of thousands of km/s in delta v (both designs accelerate gas). You still run into the problem of fuel instability with the laser design, all fuel decays. The NIF (national ignition facility) has an ENORMOUS laser ignition facility (the largest operational facility in the world) and it isn't capable of generation the necessary energy pressure to sustain a fusion reaction. They ARE getting closer, but need more data and are now sharing time with weapons research (firing the lasers at weapons material instead of fusion material). They only did about 1 shot a day last year and the facility is capable of 4/day theoretically.

IMO the only "real" option for interstellar travel is bending space/time, or advanced stasis. Stasis being the more impractical.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/image...ture_2416.html

[tankbug]

Okay, fission, then fusion.

I can do science, me!

I recommend this documentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYUP7zJ0CwU

[The Stormbringer]

You had me at 'laser engine'.

[Afrospinach]

Problem with fusion is that it generally takes more energy to do it than you get out of it

AFAIK we have been creating net positive fusion reactions for ages. Trouble is they are hotter than the sun and are not long for this world.

You had me at 'laser engine'.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_propulsion

here, this might actually work.

[Arthas242]

AFAIK we have been creating net positive fusion reactions for ages. Trouble is they are hotter than the sun and are not long for this world.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_propulsion

here, this might actually work.

There is a fusion reactor in France i believe which is a international testing plant funded by several countries.

also i believe they control the heat and plasma with magnetic shielding (no i am not talking about star trek shields, but the words sound cool atleast)

[Ripster42]

There is a fusion reactor in France i believe which is a international testing plant funded by several countries.

also i believe they control the heat and plasma with magnetic shielding (no i am not talking about star trek shields, but the words sound cool atleast)

Depending on what type of star trek shields you're talking about, you might want to look at plasma windows. They're not the shields that protect ships from projectiles, but they can hold atmosphere in against a vacuum.