News
A kilowatt for a million dollars. A US company is developing a compact fusion reactor for spaceships for the Pentagon, but the energy it generates will be very expensive at first.
Private company Avalanche Energy is developing a small fusion reactor for the US military and plans to send its prototype into space by 2027. This was stated by the head of the company, Robin Langtry.
The device is called Orbitron, and if successful, it will become a kind of battery that will generate megawatts of energy. The Orbitron is based on the principle of an ion trap: the device captures high-speed ions, which begin to rotate around the cathode in a tiny orbit. The smaller the orbit, the higher the probability of fusion of light atomic nuclei into heavier ones – this reaction is accompanied by the release of a large amount of energy (this is approximately how the Sun works).
The idea is relatively simple in words, but in practice there are a lot of difficulties. For example, the Orbitron requires a very high voltage to operate. However, if engineers manage to solve all the difficulties, then a compact fusion reactor can change the rules of the game in many areas. Actually, such a device can take the form of a battery of the future.
So far, the prototype operates at a voltage of about 100 kilovolts, but the developers expect that it will soon be possible to triple it. Engineers took as a basis the principle of SpaceX: test, make mistakes, fix mistakes.
“As the price drops, more and more markets open up for something like this.” Langtry said. — “I think we will start with a million dollars per kilowatt. When we get to $100,000 per kilowatt, more applications will probably open up: aviation, drones. And then, when we get to $10,000 or $3,000 per kilowatt, we will start competing with other forms of terrestrial energy, such as fuel cells, batteries, and so on.”
One area of application for the Orbitron could be spacecraft. In May of this year, the Pentagon announced it was awarding contracts to nuclear technology companies to build “next-generation nuclear propulsion and power systems.” Avalanche Energy is one of them.
The goal is to successfully demonstrate a prototype nuclear reactor in Earth orbit by 2027. Nuclear power sources aboard the spacecraft will provide it with the electricity it needs to operate. “The bottom line is that chemical and solar systems are not capable of providing as much energy as is needed for future US Department of Defense missions.”— said the representative of the American military department.
All IDF F-35I Adir multirole combat aircraft have been inspected and returned to missions. Flights were suspended after the emergence of information about a possible malfunction of the pilot’s ejection seat.
Concerns about malfunctioning ejection seats arose within the US military. The American side informed all F-35 operators abroad about these concerns, including the Israel Defense Forces Air Force.
Lockheed Martin, which is engaged in production, has published detailed instructions for conducting a technical check. It was recommended to pay special attention to the squib, after which the seat is pushed out of the cab. All Israeli planes were tested, no faults were found.
The Lockheed Martin press service said that the manufacturer is in constant contact with F-35 operators in the US and abroad, in an effort to ensure a high level of safety in the operation of aircraft of this type, and assists in technical inspections.
Earlier it was reported that two of the six F-35 aircraft delivered to the Danish Air Force by the American company Lockheed Martin had malfunctions in the catapult mechanism.
News
Cleans, cools and warms up. Xiaomi Mijia Desktop Drinking Machine Happy Edition is offered for 220 dllar
Xiaomi has introduced the Xiaomi Mijia Desktop Drinking Machine Happy Edition Purified Cold and Hot Water Dispenser, which is offered in China for $220.
Xiaomi Mijia Desktop Drinking Machine Happy Edition has a small size and weight, the device uses six-stage filtration based on reverse osmosis. The water temperature can be precisely adjusted in 1°C increments, while the water temperature and cup volume can be adjusted from your smartphone or directly on the device.
The volume of the water tank is 4 liters. Two filter elements are replaced once a year, and their price (total) is about $50.
Earlier, the founder, chairman and CEO of Xiaomi, Lei Jun, confirmed that he will hold a presentation of new devices this week. But only now it became known that during the event 30 new devices will be announced and released. Not all will be shown from the stage, some will simply go on sale right away.
We already know that Lei Jun is due to announce the Redmi K50 Extreme Edition, Xiaomi MIX Fold 2, Xiaomi Tablet 5 Pro with a 12.4-inch screen, as well as the new Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro headset. Who knows, maybe Xiaomi will please with the announcement of the global version of Xiaomi 12S Ultra, although the company has previously stated. that this smartphone will remain exclusive to China.
In addition, Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi 816 sale (similar to the June 618). From August 8, the Chinese manufacturer offers to place pre-orders for new devices, and the peak of the sale will be on August 16.
The announcement of new products is expected on August 11, that is, the day after tomorrow.
Not all F-35 fighters show the detected defect. All Israeli aircraft have been tested
All IDF F-35I Adir multirole combat aircraft have been inspected and returned to missions. Flights were suspended after the emergence...
Cleans, cools and warms up. Xiaomi Mijia Desktop Drinking Machine Happy Edition is offered for 220 dllar
Xiaomi has introduced the Xiaomi Mijia Desktop Drinking Machine Happy Edition Purified Cold and Hot Water Dispenser, which is offered...
The biggest presentation of the year: Xiaomi will release 30 new devices this week
Earlier, the founder, chairman and CEO of Xiaomi, Lei Jun, confirmed that he will hold a presentation of new devices...
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