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tiger66261 t1_j76n4pi wrote

We'll develop a probe at half the speed of light, so it should reach the planet in roughly 60 years

50 years later

Ah christ I think the probe hit a random asteroid in deep space

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bannacct56 t1_j76wkj8 wrote

If the plan is to reach even into our Solar System we will need to start planning and getting comfortable with generational projects.

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Seared_Beans t1_j779rr2 wrote

Generational projects, and methods of keeping socio political issues from derailing it all. That will be hard with a species so focused on immediate profits. Generation projects of this magnitude don't pay off quick, I don't know many rich folk interested in doing things that won benefit them before they kick the can

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Putin_Delenda_Est t1_j77euvf wrote

There’s no one better at generational projects really. It’s the reason you end up with an aristocracy.

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Seared_Beans t1_j77sbch wrote

My guy, it won't be aristocracy. It's gonna be rampant space imperialism, you know, like we do every single time we find resources in mass ripe for the taking. Hording resources, and controlling planets in the solar system is gonna end up being their goal. They will have no interest in a project that won't make profit for 200-500 years. This ain't months without profit, this is lifetimes of investment with no gaurentee of a return (because we don't have a clue how possible this really is) the conquest of the solar system is far more likely (and we've already started it) than an interstellar one in the near to distant future. And money is already being made in it

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Rex--Banner t1_j78zedi wrote

But then 30 years later we will have a Probe that goes twice as fast as that one and then we design a Probe that is double the speed of that one and they will get a cool Probe first and each Probe after will get worse with less information that's outdated.

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