In article 59400512-d1e3-40f7-9a13-
, says...

New Fusion Engine Could Cut Travel Time To Mars Down To Six Weeks:

"Brace yourselves: Researchers at University of
Huntsville in Alabama say they are using "Dilithium
Crystals" in a new fusion impulse engine that could
cut the travel time to Mars down to as little as six
weeks, not the six months it takes now.

Txchnologist, an online magazine sponsored by
General Electric, talked to team member and
aerospace engineering PH.D. candidate Ross
Cortez, he said "The fusion fuel we're focusing
on is deuterium [a stable isotope of hydrogen]
and Li6 [a stable isotope of the metal lithium]
in a crystal structure."

"That's basically dilithium crystals we're using,"
he said.

Trekkies everywhere shudder in delight.


See:

http://www.businessinsider.com/newes...ystals-2012-10


When quoting the article, you forgot this key statement:

"they are far from achieving a "break even" energy propulsion system"

In other words, it's a pure research topic, not something "coming soon".
Well, I suppose it's "coming soon to a theater near you" once the next
Star Trek movie comes out...

Jeff



--
"the perennial claim that hypersonic airbreathing propulsion would
magically make space launch cheaper is nonsense -- LOX is much cheaper
than advanced airbreathing engines, and so are the tanks to put it in
and the extra thrust to carry it." - Henry Spencer