The Test Program, 2027–2032

Between breeder construction and the burner test unit, the years 2027–2032 build shared experience and burner-specific prototypes.

Filling the gap productively

The window between breeder construction (from Q2 2027) and the burner test unit (~2032) is a working period, not a wait. The breeder is built and begins operation; burner-specific prototypes are developed; and long-lead hardware for the test unit is designed and ordered.

What happens in the window

• 2027–29 — breeder construction; magnet, cryo, and controls experience begins to accrue.
• 2029–31 — breeder toward first tritium (~2030); burner prototypes (plug magnet, DEC module) advance.
• 2031–32 — burner test-unit assembly and commissioning.

The prototypes matter as much as the schedule. A plug-magnet prototype de-risks the 26.49 T requirement before it is integrated; a direct-conversion module prototype tests the DEC chain in isolation before the full machine. Component prototypes fail cheaply; integrated machines fail expensively.

Honest framing

This program is a plan built on the breeder succeeding roughly on schedule. Breeder delays propagate to the burner, since much of the burner’s readiness is inherited. The window is where most breeder-to-burner transfer physically happens.