It’s just the start.
As soon as we figure out how to get past that ‘Speed of Light’ thingy..............
I think we’ve got another thousand years in this solar system. Once we’ve populated and industrialized our solar system as much as we can, then we’ll be ready do reach for distant stars with people. There are quite a few stars and brown dwarfs within 10 light years.
Even if we never find a way around the light speed problem it doesn’t mean we can’t go, we just wouldn’t be able to do it at light speed. Within 1000 years we’ll probably be able to keep people in stasis for long periods. In 1000 years we’ll be able to achieve a considerable percentage of light speed. In 1000 years we’ll be able to build the really big ships we need. In fact we will probably do all of those things much sooner than 1000 years from now but I doubt we’ll be try to send men beyond our solar system for at least 1000 years.
I'm optimistic.......I hope you get a chance to talk with a 100 year old senior who has seen everything from a prairie home with no running water until her father drilled a well with a post and a mule, lived thru the great "dust bowl" and now has a smart phone.
The accomplishments we have seen in technology this past 100 years will only multiply geometrically in the next 100 years........I would give anything to see what life will be like then............