Spacecraft of the Future Could Be Powered By Lattice Confinement Fusion

[Brian]

NASA researchers demonstrate the ability to fuse atoms inside room-temperature metals.

"But researchers at NASA’s Glenn Research Center have now demonstrated a method of inducing nuclear fusion without building a massive stellarator or tokamak. In fact, all they needed was a bit of metal, some hydrogen, and an electron accelerator.The team believes that their method, called lattice confinement fusion, could be a potential new power source for deep space missions."

from:
https://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/en ... t-included

(This is not "drive" power but a possible source of internal power )

[Cliff]

Brian
I'm not really into space-flight. Do I take the last line (in brackets) of your post, to mean that Lattice Confinement Fusion can only be used for energy needed inside a spacecraft such as that needed just operate the spacecraft ?
Best of luck from Cliff

[Brian]

Hello Cliff.

Yes you are correct in that the "claim" for this method of energy production is that it could potentially provide the internal power requirements of a spacecraft (life-support, computing, navigation etc.).

Power for a main drive is not claimed, but neither has a working internal power unit been produced as yet .

We still have a long wait for a warp drive

best regards,

[RMSteele]

Very Interesting Chaps. Perhaps lattice confinement modules could be implanted in pigs to enable them to achieve powered flight in the not too near future. Unkind thoughts, Bob.

[Brian]

Hi Bob,
I take it from your scepticism that you remember the "cold fusion" (fiasco?) of the last century?

regards,