The physics and technology that is being developed for and that will be demonstrated in ITER [1] will be sufficient to make a very good neutron source, there are a number of potential ‘national missions’ for a good neutron source, and the further technology advances beyond ITER that would be required for a neutron source facility are essentially the same as the advances that would be required for an electrical energy producing fusion demonstration reactor. Some preliminary considerations are presented for an alternative pathway for fusion energy development, proceeding from the present through an international test reactor (ITER) stage to a fusion neutron source facility (or non-electrical applications) stage and finally to the deployment of fusion electrical power reactors. Recent studies of two types of fusion neutron source facilities for ‘national missions’ are reviewed as representative examples.