A fission reactor is like a steam engine: it is loaded with fuel, a self-sustaining reaction begins and produces energy. If it produces too much energy the reaction can run away and cause a meltdown or explosion.
A fusion reactor is like a gasoline engine: fuel has to be constantly fed in and conditions precisely maintained. If anything goes wrong, you can turn the key and shut it off, or it will fail simply because the environment no longer supports the conditions for fusion.
Instead of ludicrously dangerous hot metal rods, a fusion reactor produces a non-reactive gas that is only radioactive for 50 years and if released into the atmosphere would rise away from the surface and eventually evaporate into space.
Also, a US government lab announced recently they have managed to release more energy from the reaction than it took to produce it.
Nuclear fusion milestone passed at US lab [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24429621]
A fusion reactor is like a gasoline engine: fuel has to be constantly fed in and conditions precisely maintained. If anything goes wrong, you can turn the key and shut it off, or it will fail simply because the environment no longer supports the conditions for fusion.
Instead of ludicrously dangerous hot metal rods, a fusion reactor produces a non-reactive gas that is only radioactive for 50 years and if released into the atmosphere would rise away from the surface and eventually evaporate into space.
Also, a US government lab announced recently they have managed to release more energy from the reaction than it took to produce it.
Nuclear fusion milestone passed at US lab [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24429621]