Agreed

Adam — 3/13/2006 9:18:33 AM (archived)

Hi RL

We need both forms of fusion - indirect and direct - and I reckon we could do well with fission (not our current crappy enriched uranium nonsense, mind) too.

All three are the only long term energy sources and the only ones with off-world potential too. If self-replicating solar powersats ever become feasible (c. 2100) then they will allow a semi-Dyson shell to be built and practically unlimited power to be tapped. Only ultra-scale sollectors will be able to support astro-engineering on a planetary scale - that'll open any suitable object up for terraforming and/or orboforming.

But those are all wild, wild ideas for after our current time of troubles.

Adam

The whole thread (31 posts)

Fusion a waste of effort - Adam - 3/9/2006 9:26:10 PM
- It is beginning to look that way, but the story is far from over. - David F Mayer - 3/10/2006 4:59:57 PM
  - You know, if you wanted to learn something ... - R.L. - 3/11/2006 8:16:10 AM
    - If you did not misread or misinterpret what I wrote, you would not be so silly. - David F Mayer - 3/17/2006 4:33:18 PM
  - You are lying again, David... - R.L. - 3/11/2006 4:28:00 AM
    - I was referring to "Engineering breakeven" - David F Mayer - 3/17/2006 4:27:17 PM
      - "but so far no fusion reactor has ever come anywhere near an energy break-even point " - R.L. - 3/18/2006 3:18:49 AM
        
        I meant "net" breakeven point -- Producing as much electricity as consumed. (n/t) - DFM - 3/19/2006 2:43:48 AM
- There is more than the Tokamak... - R.L. - 3/10/2006 4:56:31 AM
  - We have been hearing the same optimistic crap for decades. - David F Mayer - 3/17/2006 4:36:38 PM
  - R.L.'s got a point. - Tom Brosz - 3/11/2006 5:56:06 AM
  - And the alternatives are??? - Adam - 3/10/2006 8:57:05 AM
    - Opinion of a non expert.... - R.L. - 3/12/2006 10:26:32 AM
      - Agreed, but... - Adam - 3/13/2006 9:50:42 AM
    - We have gotten close to breakeven - R.L. - 3/11/2006 4:48:14 AM
      - Long, long wait - Adam - 3/12/2006 4:44:58 AM
        
        Am I frustrated? Yes... - R.L. - 3/12/2006 5:13:25 AM
        
        I agree, but... - Adam - 3/12/2006 5:53:01 AM
        
        It is about thinking in the long term... - R.L. - 3/12/2006 7:32:30 AM
        
        Solar's limitations - Adam - 3/13/2006 3:50:19 AM
        
        Fine... - R.L. - 3/13/2006 3:59:29 AM
        
        Agreed - Adam - 3/13/2006 9:18:33 AM
- The only known working fusion reactor in this solar system can be tapped - SDF - 3/10/2006 3:18:06 AM
  - You left out what is potentially the biggest. - David F Mayer - 3/10/2006 5:06:33 PM
    - Yes, forgot OTEC, SPS and solar chimneys (Updated list) - SDF - 3/10/2006 5:47:46 PM
      - Cross "Solar Power Satellite" from your list. - David F Mayer - 3/10/2006 8:20:22 PM
        
        That's why I listed it as a future solar technology, speculative (n/t) - SDF - 3/11/2006 1:56:02 PM
        
        re: Cross "Solar Power Satellite" from your list. - ARCHER - 3/11/2006 3:02:27 AM
        
        Killjoy (n/t) - Adam - 3/11/2006 2:21:42 AM
      - Solar chimneys are cool. - Lee - 3/10/2006 6:29:00 PM
  - Sandia's Z Machine Exceeds Two Billion Degrees Kelvin - ljk - 3/10/2006 3:58:14 AM

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