For most, the vastness and distances to these exoplanets are unfathomable. 3 hundred light years? That's not bad, right? That's only 4 generations of humans and if we can master stasis.... THAT'S AT LIGHT SPEED! Not gonna happen.
I had an interesting dialogue with a friend about this recently. It is estimated, that our closest neighboring "star system", Alpha Centauri, is about 4 light years away. If we developed technology that increased our speed in space by 10X (average over distance), we might be able to get to Alpha Centauri in about 13,500 years. Even if we found a way to make equipment and fuel last that long and successfully mastered effective stasis, we would likely miss the star system all together. It will have moved by the time we get there. The calculations for a perfect shot also become unfathomable simply because nothing in the universe is still. There is no benchmark, and the lag in time makes the relative position of every object in space an estimate.
Ok, so what of communication. Radio waves are ineffective at the vast distances we are seeking. The wavelengths grow over distances and a signal received would be so distorted it would likely be indistinguishable from the natural static found in the universe. So we use high intensity light and lasers? We still have the same problem to a lesser degree but now we have to hit a moving target in a focused attempt.
Let's say we wanted to send a message to Kepler-1649c (only 300 light years away). And let's say in another 100 years we can produce a laser with an encoded message that had the strength to be received 300 light years from when it was sent. Two problems still exist.
1) We have to lead the star system by 300 years (think in 3 dimensions, 4 if you include time). We'll never know if the shot was accurate.
2) If we are able to hit the star system, the planet is only a small, moving part of the star system and would only collect a tiny fraction of the transmitted light. Any refraction or diffraction of the laser signal could be distorted and again, any perceivable light received would likely be lost in the incoming static of space.
Assuming intelligent life on the planet did recognize our signal as intelligent life. That would likely indicate they were more advanced than us. That's a good thing, right? (Debate Philosophy here, lol)
Next, to verify our success, they would have to find where the signal came from, 300 earth years prior. Then they would have to use whatever technology they have to return a signal. 600 years or so after we sent our greeting, we would have to recognize their response. Then we could plan our visit? At an inconceivable speed (for which technology does not exist) we might be able to make the trip in a short 50,000 to 100,000 years. And at that speed, a vessel could expect to disintegrate should it encounter a random small pocket of gas in transit. We are already well into the realm of what we consider science fiction by today's standards.
Will humans ever migrate into space and inhabit exoplanets in the universe? I guess maybe in the next million years or so. Will we ever meet intelligent alien life? Not likely. Does intelligent extraterrestrial exist in the universe? Most likely. In fact, there well may have already been intelligent life out there that has come and become extinct. There may also be "intelligent life" that is just now evolving. But our star, the Sun, also has an expiration date. So even our opportunity in space and time is limited. It's good to look and is our human nature. But ultimately, is our expectation and hopes a bit ambitious?
Why don’t we just transport there? /s
Paging all libtards your space crafts depart in one hour.
Alpha Centauri, is about 4 light years away. If we developed technology that increased our speed in space by 10X (average over distance), we might be able to get to Alpha Centauri in about 13,500 years
The star is apparently a red dwarf. For a planet to be in the habitable zone wouldn’t it have to be much closer to the star than we are at 93m miles? Wouldn’t a planet that close to a star also be in tidal lock, with one side always facing and the other not, like our moon. Were the planet in tidal lock, it is difficult to see how complex life could evolve.
Anybody see the movie “Passengers.” Pretty cool conception of travelling at partial speed of light and taking 89 years to reach a destination. The passengers are all in suspended animation, of course.