Abstract.  An Inertial fusion power plant is intended to produce electric power by use of inertial confinement fusion techniques on an industrial scale. This type of power plant is still in a research phase. One of the key technical issues is the target injection at a frequency in the range of 5-10 Hz with an accuracy of positioning of few microns.

These targets are hollow sphere (2 mm diameter) with an inner solid fuel layer (Tritium- Deuterium mixture) of 200 microns at a temperature of 16 K approximately. These targets have to be injected in an experimental vessel (5 m diameter) with a speed of 1000 ms^-1. This speed is required to reduce the radiation heat load coming from the chamber wall. The scattering angle has to be less than 10^-6. The mechanical strains of the target due to the launching acceleration have to be less than a maximum value beyond which the modes of deformation introduce hydrodynamic instabilities.

In this paper we describe some path of research and techniques which are promising as target acceleration with a gas gun or laser ablation. The goal is also to give the environment limit in terms of mechanical stresses, heat load, pressure vessels and to find a compromise with these all items to be sure that the target will survive till they reach the implosion point.