I haven't read the article, but the excerpt indicates they're talking about developing a shovel that will clear a path into the woods where they will build a cabin
THIS isn't skunk work ... this is work that stinks and I BET'cha ... our tax dollars will come into play SOME how.
WW2 is over ... we won ...
The acquisition of relatively low cost and mobile or portable fusion reactors for the production of energy will be as momentous as the discovery of fire was for human societies.
Do you own an M4 or some variant thereof? How about a Hummer? Night vision goggles? Velcro? MRE’s with a flameless heater?
Your tax dollars were in play when those and many other technologies were developed, yet, you and me and millions of others enjoy the results...
I understand the cynicism...I’m a natural cynic...but if the DoD and Lockheed go into this as partners, both can benefit if the technology wins out.
Much of the engineering, analysis and conceptual work is done before cutting one piece of sheet metal ‘cause there’s really no point in spending extra $$ before then.
It’s called “proof of concept”...then concept demonstrator...there is a process.