Fusion energy theoretical question

[isee]

Just wondering. Provided we master teh fusion energy as a viable source, be it via laser or magnetically contained plasma. Our sun dies without engulfing/destroying us. Would we be able to sustain life just using artificial almost limitless energy or will it get so cold so fast that we wont be able to create andy sustainable pockets of life?

Also is the technology likely to be reduced in size sufficiently to be able to carry it on exploration missions. Say mars to start with? Afterall, setting up a base on Mars with no limit to energy consumption could solve almost all problems faced today right? A radiation shielding magnetic field, suffiecient lighting for plant cultivation and therefore food and water source?

[Eric Mc]

isee said:

Just wondering. Provided we master teh fusion energy as a viable source, be it via laser or magnetically contained plasma. Our sun dies without engulfing/destroying us. Would we be able to sustain life just using artificial almost limitless energy or will it get so cold so fast that we wont be able to create andy sustainable pockets of life?

Also is the technology likely to be reduced in size sufficiently to be able to carry it on exploration missions. Say mars to start with? Afterall, setting up a base on Mars with no limit to energy consumption could solve almost all problems faced today right? A radiation shielding magnetic field, suffiecient lighting for plant cultivation and therefore food and water source?

Sun won't die for 4 billion years so not a pressing issue.

The fuel for fusion is hydrogen. On Mars, that would need to be extracted from the reserves of underground water ice now confirmed in some regions of the planet.
Solar power is an option on Mars as well - as used by virtually all the space probes sent there (there have been a couple of exceptions to this).

[AlexKP]

In the deep future, it may be possible to manipulate stars or to tap zero-point energy etc.

In which case there would be no problem.

As to your original question - with limitless power the planet could survive without question.

[rhinochopig]

In answer to question re sustaining life re end of sun (ignoring the fact that the sun would then engulf the earth) yes. A nuclear sub is self sufficient - except for food. Scale that up and include some kind of food producing capability and the ability to refuel your reactors and yes it is possible

[M3CHA-MONK3Y]

Given that situation, you have to ask whether continued existence on Earth would be worthwhile for the sake of pure nostalgia. With the ability to produce unlimited energy, travelling between planets becomes a less difficult task (although still difficult as unlimited energy does not solve problems associated with near light velocity speeds), so would it be worth maintaining the planet? Probably not.

[turbobloke]

rhinochopig said:

In answer to question re sustaining life re end of sun (ignoring the fact that the sun would then engulf the earth) yes.

The 'ignoring' bit is definitely needed with a sub - when the Sun goes red giant, oceans will no longer exist.

[hairykrishna]

isee said:

Our sun dies without engulfing/destroying us.

This won't happen. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_giant for a reasonable explanation of how the sun is going to evolve.