Do we want a defense contractor controling fusion?

So someone correct this line of thinking for me please?

We don't really want Lockheed, a defense contractor in control of fusion technology do we?

Are they going to start supplying civilian populations with energy and be the next biggest corporation on the planet?

How is this going to work?

nextbigfuture.com...

Lockheed Martin Skunkworks is developing a compact fusion reactor concept, CFR. The novel magnetic cusp configuration would allow for stable plasmas in a geometry amenable to economical power plants and power sources. The details of the CFR configuration will be discussed along with a status of the current plasma confinement experiments underway at Lockheed. The presentation will also touch on the potential of a fast development path and challenges to bring such a device to fruition.

a reply to: onequestion

Is cold fusion even possible?

a reply to: ChesterJohn

Oh I forgot my link one sec.

a reply to: onequestion

How is this going to work?

Well since they developed it, its theirs barring a contractual agreement to share their technology/

They will control it until enough years have passed when it becomes public knowledge depending on patent laws. IF it is deemed weaponizable or dangerous then only a few in the energy industry will be allowed to have it depending on the country.

If not it will remain a US military technology until someone else does what they did. If no one else does, then they call the shots.

a reply to: tadaman

So Lockheed is going to run everything if they are telling the truth.

a reply to: onequestion

We don't really want Lockheed, a defense contractor in control of cold fusion technology do we?

That article is not about cold fusion technology.
But Lockheed is not the only company working on fusion.

a reply to: onequestion

It could be.

Its their effort that brought this about no? Whats the difference between a guy in his garage controlling it or a defense contractor?

The guy in his garage could have been building computers in the 70s, but chose to pursue cold fusion and then makes a huge global corporation....which he controls or his company controls outright.

Same end result. I am not anymore happy about it, but instead of investing in cold fusion other countries had other priorities, as did other Americans and companies.

If a defense contractor made it I would be happy that it has at least been discovered.

EDIT TO ADD:
This is about a compact fusion reactor right, not cold fusion?

either way, cool.

a reply to: onequestion

I think you are confusing everyone by your use of the words "cold fusion"?

There is nothing in that linked article about cold fusion I can find?

Yay I edit the op to keep the topic on track for the people who are only interested in picking a part grammar.

Thanks guys!

a reply to: onequestion

people who are only interested in picking a part grammar.

It's actually more about physics than grammar.

But to answer your question; I'm glad someone, anyone might be controlling it because if it isn't controlled you get this:

a reply to: Phage

Oh great who cares.

Do we want Lockheed in control?

I don't want a defense contractor as one of the most powerful entities on the planet if they do something crazy wth energy.

a reply to: onequestion

Oh great who cares.

A lot of people do.
A successful fusion power program would be a major step forward.

I don't want a defense contractor as one of the most powerful entities on the planet if they do something crazy wth energy.

You might be shocked to find that the majority of the companies involved in advanced technology are "defense contractors."

originally posted by: Phage
You might be shocked to find that the majority of the companies involved in advanced technology are "defense contractors."

True dat

a reply to: Phage

Could there be another branch like the army for science?
Only instead of for military it would be for popular domestic applications so AT least some could get away from the military.

a reply to: Phage

That's what's scary.

Isn't anyone in the private sector doing this?

a reply to: onequestion

I am fairly certain they are a private sector company.

a reply to: onequestion

Isn't anyone in the private sector doing this?

Lockheed is in the private sector.

It takes big bucks for this kind of research. Big bucks means a big company. A big company which is involved in advanced research will, inevitably, acquire government contracts. If they are good at it. And Lockheed is good at it.

They are not, btw, developing the CFR under a government contract. They hope, if they can get it to work, to sell it to the Navy as well as making it available for civilian use.
www.lockheedmartin.com...

a reply to: Baldryck

Yeah but their a defense contractor they are using government money.

How did you miss that?

I don't want the military industrial complex controling everything!


Sooooo thick!

I feel like I'm talking to children!

a reply to: onequestion

I didn't miss anything. It's not just the government that pays them for service. They are a private sector company.

a reply to: onequestion

I don't want the military industrial complex controling everything!

What do you want controlling everything?