Should We Fly to Another Star Soon? Or Wait for Better Technology to Come Along?

It’s hard to really wrap your mind around the vast distances between stars. The fastest spacecraft ever launched into an interstellar trajectory right now is Voyager 1. If it was directed at the nearest star, it would take tens of thousands of years to make the journey across the interstellar gulf.

Even so, groups like Breakthrough Starshot and Icarus Interstellar are working on plans right now to try and send spacecraft to other stars, ideally within our lifetimes.

But we can see how quickly technology is advancing all around us, from materials science to high energy physics, not to mention reusable rockets.

It seems reasonable to ask, should we invest in an interstellar mission now, or wait a few decades or even centuries for better technology to come along which could make the trip much shorter?

Watch Chris Hadfield's video:
   • An Astronaut's Guide to Optimism 2020  

Our Book is out!
https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Today...

Audio Podcast version:
ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/u...
RSS: https://www.universetoday.com/audio

Weekly email newsletter:
https://www.universetoday.com/newsletter

Weekly Space Hangout:
   / @weeklyspacehangout  

Astronomy Cast:
   / @astronomycast  

Support us at   / universetoday  
More stories at https://www.universetoday.com/
Twitch:   / fcain  
Twitter:   / universetoday  
Facebook:   / universetoday  
Instagram -   / universetoday  

Team: Fraser Cain - @fcain / [email protected]
Karla Thompson - @karlaii /    / @karlathompson001  
Chad Weber - [email protected]

References:
https://breakthroughinitiatives.org/i...
http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/
http://lifeunbounded.blogspot.com/201...
https://www.researchgate.net/publicat...