Couple of fusion questions

1) Which is more feasible for electricity generation: fusion or
space-based solar?


[For kicks, I came up with this:

According to http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/electricity.html, the
world will use 30 trillion kW-h of electricity by 2030. This is an
average power consumption rate of 3.4 * 10^12 watts.

The total amount of sunlight reaching the Earth (cross-section above
the atmosphere) is 1.7 * 10^17 watts, so we would need a collector with
1/5,000 the area of the Earth's cross-section (assuming 100%
efficiency) in order to rely on space-based sunlight alone. This is
big - 25,000 km^2, or 160 X 160 km - but not unthinkable. (ref:
http://www.answers.com/topic/solar-constant)]


2) If we launched a 'Manhattan Project' for fusion power generation,
how long do you think it would take?

I favor 2). Even if we can solve its technical problems, space-based
is too expensive to build, IMO.

Fusion, baby!!!!!

.