Reply To: EmDrive + Focus Fusion = Space Access for all?

[belbear]

texaslabrat wrote: In the mean time, I’ll still be putting my money on the space elevator tho 😉

I totally agree it will be a formidable and lenghty engineering challenge to build a fusion powered first stage launcher, but so is a space elevator. Only think of all that orbiting space junk that needs to be cleaned up before you can even start building a space elevator. It may take as well a FF launcher to do just that and pave the way for space elevators.

Just because a FF launcher can take off lightweight, it doesn’t even need those outrageous power levels and brutal acceleration associated with Saturn V rockets or Space Shuttles, so much less than a GW may do. Neutron shielding doesn’t need to be as heavy too. The crew compartment must of course be safe, but leaking some neutrons in the atmosphere is not really a problem. Cosmic radiation does similar all the time.

Once we have FF as a proven technology in the next couple of years, thousands of engineers can bend over all the new applications that are opening up.
Then, around mid-21st century, those advanced FF concepts beyond simple power production can already be realized. (even before the time of currently projected practical DT fusion)

Fusion-powered commercial airliners are one of those must-have’s before the 21st century ends, at least if the airline sector has the ambition to survive the fossil fuel era. Spaceflight can follow that research and military flight may even lead it. (they’ll definitely want unlimited-range bombers and fighters)
It not only eliminates most environmental issues ralated to aviation (CO2, soot, contrails), but also two important causes of aircraft disaster: Fire after an otherwise intact crash landing and out-of-fuel emergencies.

Hydrogen, the only other alternative, just eliminates the CO2 and soot issue and causes even more fire hazard. (remember Hindenburg and Challenger)

Passenger acceptance may be a problem in the beginning (Nuclear planes? No thanks, I don’t wanna light up in the dark), but by that time some inevitable mishaps with focus fusion units (all without dangerous radiation issues) will quickly subside fears. And what that toxic decaborane concerns: In open air, these few grams involved will quickly disperse to harmless levels. Such “minor mishaps” with dangerous chemicals are quite common in the chemical industry.