The standard capsule design1 and other laser plasma targets at the National Ignition Facility offer the possibility of generating and studying thermal rates for significant astrophysical fusion reactions such as {sup 3}He({sup 3}He,2p){alpha}, {sup 7}Be(p,{gamma})B, and {sup 15}N(p,{alpha}){sup 12}C. At present the ''S'' factors for these reactions are determined either by extrapolation from higher energy scattering data or by underground laboratory, low event rate experiments such as at LUNA on un-ionized atoms with concomitantly large screening corrections. The ability to directly generate astrophysical fusion reactions in thermonuclear plasmas will be complemented by new, ab initio, ''no frozen core'' detailed shell model predictions for such light ion reactions. In addition, the expected fluence of neutrons from the main D + T {yields} {alpha} burn reaction, is high enough to drive 10-20% of seeded spectator nuclei into excited states via (n,n') reactions. Furthermore, the {approx}2% ''minority'' D + D {yields} {sup 3}He + n can drive reactions pertinent to the r, s, and p process nucleosynthesis of heavy elements, including branches that pass through excited states with t > 10 ps, that can be studied using particle spectroscopy and radiochemistry. Additionally, for the first time, it will be possible to measure themore » effects of plasma screening on thermonuclear reactions. In the latter arena it will be possible to address the controversy of whether or not there are significant quantum corrections to Salpeter screening. Radiochemistry measurements of noble gas end species can be made with very high efficiency with only {approx} 10{sup 4} atoms required. Solid collection systems are being developed as well (with 10 atoms required at present). Because the capsule is essentially thin to neutrons, the reaction rate on an advected set of marker nuclei is a linear functional of the neutron source distribution. Determining this source function is thus computationally analogous to similar problems in medical imaging.« less