United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2007-10-26 monographic deposited born digital 38 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-30 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-30 P0b002ee18038399f f:d0830 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-30 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-30 GAO-08-30 Budget outlays Cost analysis Energy research Financial analysis Foreign governments Fusion Future budget projections Human capital planning Interagency relations Nuclear energy Nuclear facilities Nuclear reactors Program management Quality assurance Research and development Research and development facilities Research program management Schedule slippages Strategic planning Cost estimates Program coordination Program costs Program goals or objectives International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Project Other Written Product A77650 The United States is pursuing two paths to fusion energy--magnetic and inertial. On November 21, 2006, the United States signed an agreement with five countries and the European Union to build and operate the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in Cadarache, France, to demonstrate the feasibility of magnetic fusion energy. The United States also built and operates facilities to pursue inertial fusion energy research. This report discusses (1) U.S. contributions to ITER and the challenges, if any, in managing this international fusion program and (2) the Department of Energy's (DOE) management of alternative fusion research activities, including National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) initiatives. In performing this work, GAO analyzed budget documents, briefings, and reports that focused on research and funding priorities for the fusion program. GAO also met with officials from DOE, NNSA, and the ITER Organization in France. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-30/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-30.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-30/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-30.pdf GAO-08-30 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-30 Other Written Product GAO-08-30; Fusion Energy: Definitive Cost Estimates for U.S. Contributions to an International Experimental Reactor and Better Coordinated DOE Research Are Needed; Budget outlays Cost analysis Energy research Financial analysis Foreign governments Fusion Future budget projections Human capital planning Interagency relations Nuclear energy Nuclear facilities Nuclear reactors Program management Quality assurance Research and development Research and development facilities Research program management Schedule slippages Strategic planning Cost estimates Program coordination Program costs Program goals or objectives International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Project Volume 86 Page 770 86 Stat. 770 Public Law 92-463