a Wired article about He-3 on the moon.
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/space/0,72276-0.html?tw=rss.index
Chris Campbell wrote:
Really? Wouldn't that first require a functioning fusion reactor?
Yes, plus functioning mining capability on the Moon, plus functioning
ways to transport tons of stuffs from Moon to Earth. The space
shuttle can bring about a school bus load (right?) down to Earth, but
it can't get out to lunar orbit in the first place; everything else
that can get to lunar orbit isn't able to transport more than a few
hundred kg of cargo per expandable vehicle.
Last I heard, the optimistic projections put a reactor on the table
by 2050 (or somewhere thereabouts). I can't see helium being very
useful until then, so what do we do in the meantime?
10 years ago, I took a grad course called something like "Plasma
physics and Fusion reactor". The prof. said during first day: "If you
come to this course hoping to work on fusion power generation, you
might want to drop this course. It's not happening in your lifetime,
it's probably not happening in your grandchildren's lifetime". So I
dropped the course.
Apart from bragging rights, I'm still spotty on the whole payoff
angle. A competitive edge is great, but to what does the edge
pertain? Mining? Energy? Strategy? What?
The bragging rights is pretty important. Especially since the World
is Flat, creative minds and good brains are attracted to places
associated with moon landing, space shuttle etc. If a nation wants to
compete in the top tier of global skilled labor market, it needs to do
something more than just the most sensible and practical.
Otherwise, I agree, practically it's more sensible to spend your R&D
dollars on AI, robotics and unmanned missions.
--
Dr. Core
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