ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
Apr 2026
Jan 2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
May 2026
Nuclear Technology
March 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
A year in orbit: ISS deployment tests radiation detectors for future space missions
The predawn darkness on a cool Florida night was shattered by the ignition of nine Merlin engines on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The thrust of the engines shook the ground miles away. From a distance, the rocket appeared to slowly rise above the horizon. For the cargo onboard, the launch was anything but gentle, as the ignition of liquid oxygen generated more than 1.5 million pounds of force. After the rocket had been out of sight for several minutes, the booster dramatically returned to Earth with several sonic booms in a captivating show of engineering designed to make space travel less expensive and more sustainable.
J. D. Gordon, T. K. Samec, S. A. Freije, B. I. Hauss
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 4 | Number 2 | September 1983 | Pages 348-352
Alternate Fuels | doi.org/10.13182/FST83-A22889
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
We have evaluated the energetics of the proton-11boron advanced fuel fusion cycle and find that the enhancement of reactivity obtained from non-thermal mechanisms is significantly less than the enhancement required for ignition or high gain operation. Based on a detailed calculation of synchrotron radiation losses, at least 135% enhancement of the reactivity is needed for ignition. The direct and induced radioactivity associated with the cycle, while being orders of magnitude lower than that of D-T, is not negligible and requires serious attention in the design. Thus, we conclude that, using our present physics knowledge, the p-11B cycle is not viable for commercial fusion power.