Project Icarus: the Gas Mines of Uranus 155
astroengine writes "When considering the fuel source for a fusion-powered interstellar probe, wouldn't it be a good idea to set up a colony on the moon and start pillaging the lunar surface for its helium-3 riches? Not so fast, says Adam Crowl of Project Icarus, there may be a far more viable source. What about the gas giants? Although Jupiter's gravity could pose a problem and Saturn's rings might get in the way (and forget Neptune, that place is one hell of a commute), perhaps the helium-3 in the Uranian atmosphere could be mined using atmospheric balloons?"
Skip ahead to here (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Cheaper to make 3He on Earth? (Score:3, Insightful)
Lots of tritium is already produced in heavy water reactors, like CANDU. Most of it was just released, but I think they are getting smarter and are storing it now.
This is considering He-3 is in huge demand right for cryogenic research.
Anyway, He-3 fusion is much further away than H2+H3 fusion simply because of massively higher energy levels for confinement.. He-3 fusion could only be researched if we are unable to find a solution for the high neutron flux in H2+H3.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITER#Reactor_overview [wikipedia.org]
Re:never ever ever (Score:2, Insightful)
I need... mod... points.
Mod this up, guys.
>Folks like you would demand moronic laws in the name of "think of our children" but when it comes to actually making their future a little better, folks like you don't actually give a shit about your children and your grand-children. After all, YOU are not benefiting immediately. Right?
That is exactly what it's all about. It's the driving force behind the tea party. It's what's behind all the "hurr, that's socialism" bullshit. It's the "I've got mine, fuck you" niggardly attitude where anything that benefits everyone in the long run is somehow socialist because spending a dime today on it is immoral according to the church of Mammon and Ayn Rand, the prophet PBUH.
These are the same people who ridiculed the word "Hope" in the Obama campaign.
It's on my fucking state flag. I have not enough middle fingers for such folks.
*spit*
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BMO