--- title: "Why the ‘Mother of Dragons’ at SpaceX left her job building rockets to work on nuclear fusion" description: "Darby Dunn, who was nicknamed the \"Mother of Dragons\" at SpaceX for her role in developing the company's reusable launch vehicles." author: "Yashna Bawa" published: 2023-06-13 updated: 2023-06-13 canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/news/3048/why-the-mother-of-dragons-at-spacex-left-her-job-building-rockets-to-work-on-nuclear-fusion category: "cold fusion" tags: ["space science", "space transportation"] reading_time: 3 minutes --- # Why the ‘Mother of Dragons’ at SpaceX left her job building rockets to work on nuclear fusion **Darby Dunn,** who was nicknamed the "**Mother of Dragons**" at SpaceX for her [role in developing](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/115684/what-was-charles-darwin-s-role-in-developing-the-theory-of-evolution-by-natural-selection) the company's reusable [launch vehicles](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/100406/how-many-launch-vehicles-does-isro-have), has left to work on nuclear fusion. Dunn is now the chief [operating officer](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/32080/which-company-appointed-barney-harford-as-chief-operating-officer) of **Commonwealth** **Fusion Systems**, a company that is developing a new type of fusion reactor. Fusion is a process that combines two [atoms](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/168003/configuring-atom-for-python) to create a new atom, releasing a large amount of energy in the process. Fusion is considered to be a clean and abundant [source of energy](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/93008/what-is-a-good-source-of-energy), and it is the process that powers stars. Dunn said she left SpaceX because she wanted to work on a technology that could have a major [impact on the world](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/35228/annie-oakley-s-impact-on-the-world). "I believe fusion is the most important [energy technology](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/100550/what-are-the-key-developments-in-renewable-energy-technology-and-their-environmental-impact) of our time," she said. "**It has the potential to provide clean, abundant energy for generations to come.**" Dunn is not the only high-profile engineer to leave **SpaceX** to work on fusion. In recent years, a number of other engineers have left the company to work on [fusion startups](https://www.mindstick.com/news/2875/mos-it-ministry-to-meet-indian-startups-to-assess-impact-of-silicon-valley-bank-s-collapse). This trend is a sign of the growing interest in fusion as a potential energy source. Fusion is a difficult technology to develop, and it is not clear when it will be commercially viable. However, Dunn and other engineers who are working on fusion are hopeful that it will be a reality in the not-too-distant future. ## Here are some of the reasons why Darby Dunn left her job building rockets to work on nuclear fusion: She believes that fusion is the most important energy technology of our time. Fusion is a clean and abundant source of energy that has the potential to provide for the world's energy needs for generations to come.\ She is excited to be part of a team that is working to make fusion a reality. [Commonwealth Fusion Systems](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/story/1051/india-thrash-pakistan-in-cricket-commonwealth) is one of the leading companies in the world working on fusion research. Dunn is excited to be part of a team that is making progress on this important technology.\ She believes that her skills and experience in rocket engineering will be valuable in the development of fusion reactors. Dunn has a deep understanding of [engineering and design](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/332094/what-is-embedded-software-engineering). She is also experienced in managing large projects. These skills will be valuable in the development of fusion reactors, which are complex and challenging machines.\ Dunn's decision to leave SpaceX to work on nuclear fusion is a sign of the growing interest in this technology. Fusion has the potential to be a major breakthrough in the energy industry, and Dunn is one of many engineers who are working to make it a reality. --- Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/news/3048/why-the-mother-of-dragons-at-spacex-left-her-job-building-rockets-to-work-on-nuclear-fusion Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.