Even sending a probe to the nearest star system would require a huge investment using current propulsion methods and the results might only be seen by our great-great-grandchildren.The data could be beamed back to us at the speed of light,getting the dat-gathering platform there will take a long time.And it would almost certainly have to incorporate a foolproof nuclear power reactor .Someone care to calculate the transmitter power required and antenna size to send the probe's data back at even "dial-up" rates?
TAU, Thousands of Astronomical Units, was intended to fly -wait for it- thousands of astronomical units up out of the dusty galactic plain to give us a clear view of the core and extent of our home galaxy and a very good baseline for a stereo view of local stars and systems.
This would not only provide us accurate distances to all the visible stars but a superb dust-free view of our own galaxy as well.
If you think the Hubble images are grand, you ain't seen nuthin'!
We could do an unmanned mission today, for not that much.
Nuclear pulse + slingshot and assembly in space. Cost per tonne, around 15 bucks, not including the cost of the slingshot.
Total cost would be around a couple trillion dollars, for a 50 year one way shot at AC. Of course there is plenty that could go wrong, but it could be done today with existing technology.
You could probably do it manned as well, if you were willing to spend 10x the cost to bring aboard the essentials for life aboard a spaceship for 50 years + the increase in nuclear fuel.
The only question is the will to do something rather silly like trusting 10 trillian dollars to 2 18 year old kids on a one way shot to AC, without any way to know if it’s been done thanks to relativistic effects.