The programmatic objective of the International Thermonuclear Experimental
Reactor (ITER) calls for it to demonstrate controlled ignition and extended
burn of deuterium-tritium plasmas, to demonstrate essential fusion reactor
technologies in an integrated system, and to perform integrated testing of
high-heat flux and nuclear components.
The ITER design, as embodied in the Final Design Report, and its physics ba
sis are presented and the projections of plasma performance are summarized
together with the assessment of ITER's engineering feasibility and of the p
rogress in validating technology R&D.
The future prospects for ITER and its potential central role as an integrat
ed physics and engineering experiment in the overall development of control
led fusion as a source of useful energy are discussed.