You can not pick and choose breakthrough science project at the expense of other. R&D most be done in all possible directions, every small step forward is important. As for the fusion research, I think the IEC as a lot of promises. I offered Dr Bussard a $10M funding for his IEC demonstration. He turned down the offer, stating that he does not need the money for the test, but wanted $200M to get to the development for a power station prototype. It is my understanding that Dr. Bussard got his funding to do his second demonstration.
Money is not wasted in space! It is spent on the ground, giving company and researcher the money they need to advance the science. I agree that the ISS may not be the best science investment however. What is needed is a way to spend money more effectively, to get the most bangs for the buck. This XPrize is to advance science using the New Space approach, to show the way to spend little and achieve a lot. And, no, the launch technology can be advanced to much higher effectiveness level. The current launch system is really dinosaur that just learned how to fly.
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You can not pick and choose breakthrough science project at the expense of other. R&D most be done in all possible directions, every small step forward is important. As for the fusion research, I think the IEC as a lot of promises. I offered Dr Bussard a $10M funding for his IEC demonstration. He turned down the offer, stating that he does not need the money for the test, but wanted $200M to get to the development for a power station prototype. It is my understanding that Dr. Bussard got his funding to do his second demonstration. Money is not wasted in space! It is spent on the ground, giving company and researcher the money they need to advance the science. I agree that the ISS may not be the best science investment however. What is needed is a way to spend money more effectively, to get the most bangs for the buck. This XPrize is to advance science using the New Space approach, to show the way to spend little and achieve a lot. And, no, the launch technology can be advanced to much higher effectiveness level. The current launch system is really dinosaur that just learned how to fly.