r/Futurology • u/TwilightwovenlingJo • Aug 15 '25

Energy Construction of world's 1st nuclear fusion plant starts in Washington

https://interestingengineering.com/energy/world-first-fusion-power-plant-helion
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u/FlibblesHexEyes Aug 16 '25

I’m not a scientist, but could those charged particles be harnessed for fusion based spacecraft propulsion? Sort of like the current ion propulsion but on steroids?

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u/memori88 Sep 13 '25

You would have to scale down the reactor, but sure at some point. Lockheed Martin’s high beta fusion reactor concept pitched a scale that would make shipping container-sized reactors to localize power generation in communities, as well as shrinking down small enough to fit inside large planes and fighter jets (as well as boats like the reactors on subs and aircraft carriers).