Fusion Dreams Propel the Quest for Interstellar Travel

The article surveys fusion and nuclear propulsion concepts explored during the Space Age and Cold War—ranging from nuclear pulse and nuclear thermal propulsion to fusion-based schemes like magnetic and inertial confinement fusion, the Bussard ramjet, and projects such as Daedalus, Icarus, Enzmann, and Longshot—discussing their predicted speeds, timelines, and the enduring challenges of cost and technological maturity that prevent realization today.