The past decade has seen the coming to fruition of two major initiatives along the path to fusion becoming a commercial energy source: the completion of construction of the laser-based National Ignition Facility (NIF) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the initiation of construction of the tokamak-based International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in Cadarache, France. If proper supporting technology development is put in place during the coming decade, a fusion demonstration power plant could soon follow.

At our recent annual meeting, "Fusion Energy: Status and Prospects" December 2-3 in Washington, we reviewed the present status of the fusion energy effort. The papers from this symposium are posted on our web site.

After several decades of neglect, the need for development of new, less-polluting, energy sources has once again captured the attention of our politicians. Let us hope that the next decade will see a renewal of the original mission-oriented focus that has motivated the pursuit of fusion as a practical energy source.