Once a star has been formed it immediately enters a long stable period where the heat created by the [blank_start]nuclear fission[blank_end] provides [blank_start]outward[blank_end] [blank_start]pressure[blank_end] to balance the force of [blank_start]gravity[blank_end] pulling everything [blank_start]inwards[blank_end]. The star maintains this energy output for millions of year due to the massive amounts of [blank_start]hydrogen[blank_end] it contains. In this stable period it is called a [blank_start]main sequence star[blank_end] and it lasts for [blank_start]billions[blank_end] of years.