That's interesting... I hadn't seen that yet.

As for fusion, I'm both excited and apprehensive at the same time. All of the plans for fusion pretty much seem to require that the system be operating at peak efficiency, but we can't seem to get systems we've been using for a hundred years to operate at that level of efficiency, let alone some brand new technology. Still, I like the fact that multiple paths to fusion are being pursued (ITER, dense plasma focus, polywell, etc.).

Until they get a system up and running, the GTFH plan uses fission reactors to provide energy for colonies and colony ships. Some good progress is being made on fission reactors right now, too, in terms of deep burning (using more of the fuel to produce energy), recycling (taking spent fuel rods and creating new, usable fuel), and fast breeders (reactors that produce more fissile material than they consume), not to mention better safety margins and fail-safes. I'm optimistic for nuclear technologies.

Actually, as a commercial organization, GTFH needs to be making plans based on the latest technologies available today, but also (once more resources are available) pushing forward development of technologies to make the final plan a reality. There are a lot of steps between where we are (stuck on a single rock) to where we want to be (colonizing the galaxy), and if we can push forward progress on the steps in between (and make money doing it) then that's the real goal.

So fusion is a very real possibility, but obviously GTFH has just started and clearly doesn't have the resources to pursue fusion research. We'll leave that to the sizable number of teams currently working on it and hope that at least one (and preferably more, all using different solutions) finds a way to make it work.