Direct Fusion Drive

[DaveS]

This came up on my Google feed

https://www.essexmagazine.co.uk/2020/07/ground-breaking-new-footage-captures-nuclear-reaction-that-unlocks-deep-space-travel/

I had a look at the parent site

https://pulsarfusion.com/

And they look genuine.

We need better engines if we want to send orbiters to the outer planets.

[maw lod qan]

Very interesting. I have a hard time imagining material that can withstand hundreds of millions degrees. I hope it is developed and tested in space soon.

[Peter Drew]

I thought material didn't have to withstand the temperatures as the plasma was suspended in a powerful electric force field.  The problem with nuclear fusion I think has been that the energy to do this has so far exceeded the energy generated.     🤔

[DaveS]

The fusion drive doesn't have to contain the plasma for any length of time, or even produce power, all it has to do is produce thrust, so essentially (As I understand) an open magnetic bottle.

[maw lod qan]

If they can get it worked out it would be a big game changer, not only in space travel.