From the Article

>"Setting priorities is always a matter of weighing costs and benefits," Gerald Jackson, co-founder and president of Hbar Technologies Inc. and the author of a new paper investigating the idea of using antimatter-based propulsion for exoplanet exploration, told Space.com in an email. "Is antimatter-based propulsion for interstellar travel more important than childhood glioma in the next year? Of course not. In my opinion, there should at least be some small amount of support for long-term technologies that are not needed in the current or next fiscal year. There are many examples of technologies that enjoy low level support, only for society to find that they desperately need it.
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>"There are many scenarios where humanity may find that it needs to quickly send spacecraft into interstellar space," he said. "In my opinion antimatter-based propulsion is the best solution for such a need."
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>Jackson's study focuses primarily on the physics responsible for the propulsion system to work, with an emphasis on nuclear fission; the paper describes an electrostatic nozzle and trap meant to carry out the necessary fission. So when could we expect this antimatter-based propulsion technology to actually be developed? This is a common question but also a common trap, Jackson said