None of the fusion related research is useless. It takes a mammoth amount of trial and error to uncover what does and does not work when working with such high temperature physics. The reward, however, is ultimately worth every effort mankind can make to acquire the capabilities of nuclear fusion reactor energy production.
It takes a mammoth amount of trial and error to uncover what does and does not work when working with such high temperature physics.
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How much trial and error has Lockheed done, other than testing out their PR machine?