Fusion reactor: Difference between revisions

{{Status|Canon}}

[[Human|Humanity's]] yearning to explore and colonize space required significant energy requirements to power the machinery to industrialize and traverse interstellar space. Fusion power provided the energies to power humanity into a spacefaring civilization. The [[United Nations Space Command]] utilizes nuclear fusion reactors to a great degree, from spacecraft to [[UNSC reactor|groundside bases]]. Fusion reactors powered by [[deuterium]] reactions are used as a power source on UNSC [[warship]]s. The reactor makes up the main component of a ship's primary propulsion system, known as a [[fusion drive]], which uses vectored drive exhaust of fusion byproducts to provide thrust.<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Maw]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 275''</ref> Fusion power also provided the necessary energy to run FTL propulsion systems.

The UNSC has also mastered fusion reactor technology on a remarkably small scale, as demonstrated by the miniature fusion plants mounted on the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR armor]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 45''</ref> Despite their size, these reactors are extremely efficient; the microfusion plant of the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|MJOLNIR Mark IV]] was capable of providing power for 15 years of continuous operation,<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 140''</ref> and could almost instantly recharge the depleted energy cells of a [[D77-TC Pelican]]. [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|[GEN2] Mjolnir armor]] are equipped with a compact fusion reactor installed in the back of the armor's torso carapace.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/the-halo-bulletin-knowledge-drop '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo Bulletin 9.24.14'']</ref> The [[UNSC Army]] and [[UNSC Air Force|Air Force]] units utilize air-transportable fusion reactor [[generators]], like the [[MEP-PU-2550D/E Generator]], to meet their mobile power requirements.<ref name="Spartan Games">[http://www.spartangames.co.uk/make-your-halo-table-look-awesome '''Spartan Games''': ''Make your Halo table look awesome!'']</ref> Manufacture of these small-scale fusion reactors requires the use of [[xenotime]], a critical ore.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HO1|Oblv|Chapter=1}}

The [[Covenant]] employ another type of fusion power plant, known as the [[pinch fusion reactor]], to power their starships and other machines.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 305''</ref>

Real-world fusion reactors currently require more power than they release, so are not yet an economical means of electricity generation. Promising approaches include doughnut-shaped [[wikipedia:Tokamak|tokamaks]], [[wikipedia:Polywell|polywells]] and laser-driven [[Wikipedia:Inertial confinement fusion|inertial confinement fusion]]. In 2014, Lockheed Martin introduced the [[Wikipedia:compact fusion reactor|Compact Fusion reactor]] which promises to be an economical means of electrical generation.

**''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''

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