Provided we are not destroyed as a civilization, this is practically a certainty and it is very likely to happen in a not-too-distant future. While it does not seem feasible with current technology, it might be much closer than one would expect. Unmanned missions are already under development, such as Breakthrough Starshot or 100 Year Starship. I would expect this to become reality within a decade or two, as long as there is enough will to do this. As for manned missions, these are currently outright unimaginable. Even sending a man to Mars and back is way too technologically difficult.

However, one should not underestimate the apparently exponential nature of progress. Just consider the amount of progress made between 1900 and 2018: from complete absence of heavier-than-air flight to New Horizons. Also remember that technology is developing at exponential pace (well, if it can be measured at all). I became quite convinced after reading this popular blogpost https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/01/artificial-intelligence-revolution-1.html

If I had to bet, I would guess it might become possible within some two or three hundred years, but not within our lifetimes.

Good question to be debated ...

New types of spaceships will arise due to the technological advance of 4 different technological areas:

1- Composites and new materials

2- Artificial Intelligence

3- Energy processing

4- New types of propulsion

The integration of these areas allows the innovation of the processes of construction and manipulation of space technology. We are seeing this happening now through the achievements of private companies such as Spacex and Virgin Galactic. In a historical analogy we are experiencing the historical equivalent of the beginning of the great maritime explorations carried out by Portugal and Spain in the middle of the fifteenth century. Possibly in a few decades we will have interplanetary short-range spacecraft for trips to the moon and perhaps to Mars. A more systematic and efficient interplanetary exploration, however, must occur only in several decades.

Interstellar travel is a more complicated goal and requires science-based technologies that are still just crawling. However, I believe thi is somehow impregnated in our future.

Dear Dr. Dariusz Prokopowicz,

1. At the present stage of space propulsion technology, the only practical propulsion system is chemical propulsion system and electric propulsion system, which are based on expulsion of a mass to induce a momentum thrust. Since the maximum speed is limited by the product of the gas effective exhaust velocity and the natural logarithm of mass ratio, its speed is too slow for the spaceship to achieve the interplanetary travel and interstellar travel.

2. Instead of conventional chemical propulsion systems, field propulsion systems, which are based on General Relativity Theory, Quantum Field Theory and other exotic theories, have been proposed to overcome the speed limit of the conventional space rocket. Field propulsion system is the concept of propulsion theory of spaceship not based on usual momentum thrust but based on pressure thrust derived from an interaction of the spaceship with external fields. Field propulsion system is propelled without mass expulsion. The propulsive force is a pressure thrust which arises from the interaction of space-time around the spaceship and the spaceship itself; the spaceship is propelled against space-time structure. As a representative example of well-studied field propulsion system, space drive propulsion system induced by space curvature based on the supposition that space is an infinite continuum appears promising.

Furthermore, it is important to recognize that there is no propulsion theory which can exceed the light velocity as characteristic of space.

3. Not propulsion theory but a navigation theory (like a wormhole or time hole) becomes indispensable for the interstellar travel as which the cruising range of a light-year unit is required. Indeed, the problem of interstellar travel consists in much more in a navigation theory than in propulsion theory. The practical interstellar exploration combines both a propulsion theory with a navigation theory.

4. Please refer to the following book: concrete space propulsion theory and navigation theory are introduced.

(1) A Journey to the Stars – By Means of Space Drive Propulsion and Time-Hole Navigation –, LAMBERT Academic Publishing, 2014.

(2) Field Propulsion Physics and Intergalactic Exploration, NOVA Science Publishers, 2018, Dec.

5. My answer for your question is as follows:

It is to complete the research and development of the field propulsion system (space drive propulsion system) that can obtain high speed and high acceleration performance and the new navigation theory.

I attach the recent article.

Sincerely,

Yoshinari Minami

When they get there!

I think there is no possibility for interstellar trip without an accurate understanding of nature of vacume and time-space engineering.

In present time, scientific enviroments hardly accept new ideas.

First of all, we have to answer following questions:

1. can we say that nature of time space is from energy?

2. What is the meaning of photon?

Is photon a mathematical function which effects on time space?

At the end, I believe that we must admire movemakers imagination to find ways for interstellar trips.

We can do it now. If however you mean, when can we visit them? We probably never will be able to.

Not unless our current understanding of the basics of physics is wrong.

Yes, unfortunately it is very unlikely that humans will ever develop spacecraft technologies that would enable manned interplanetary space missions to be carried out to other exoplanets. If it were possible, then after many years man would reach other exoplanets in other planetary systems, other constellations, thanks to such manned missions. However, at the moment there is no indication that this will ever be possible. Unfortunately, most likely, man will never leave our solar system.

Regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

If an engineer studies this video and makes a copy of this machine, maybe we can.

https://youtu.be/i7F1nK7Psgc

Dear Michael Issigonis,

Thank you for the interesting video material concerning the potential possibilities of space exploration beyond our solar system in the future, discussed in this discussion.

Regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

“The universe is a pretty big place. If it's just us, seems like an awful waste of space.”

― Carl Sagan, Contact

Dear Anton Vrdoljak,

Yes, Carl Sagan put it perfectly in these words. Indeed, it would be very strange, very unlikely, even surreal if it turned out that only our planet Earth was to be the only planet in the entire vast UNIVERSE on which there are intelligent beings.

In addition, the film "Contact", in which Jodie Foster played the main role of a researcher listening to the Universe, beautifully presents the need of man to find other intelligent beings in the Universe.

Best regards, Have a nice day, Stay healthy!

Dariusz Prokopowicz

An interesting question.

Dear Salman K. Ajlan,

Thank you for the kind words.

Regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Someone's next view:" I think there is no possibility for interstellar trip without an accurate understanding of nature of vacuum and time-space engineering.", Exactly right.

I think the following books will be helpful: "STAR FLIGHT Theory: By the Physics of Field Propulsion (Translated book in 8 languages) ".

I attached the book cover.

Dear Gerges Francis Tawdrous,

Thank you very much for your explanation, for your valuable contribution to our discussion and for the links provided to interesting publications on the subject of space exploration beyond our solar system.

Thank you, Best regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Dear Yoshinari Minami,

Thanks for submitting an interesting book on the subject "Theory of stellar flight: according to the physics of the field drive". Thanks for your participation in our discussion.

Best regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Today, we learned that the USA Pentagon recognized the existence of the UFOs. They admitted about hiding the fact since at least 1947. It is about time to study the phenomenon and find a method to explore other solar systems and their planets.

Dear Michael Issigonis,

Yes, it's very interesting. If the Pentagon has concealed the existence of UFOs since 1947, the question arises: What information does the Pentagon have on this subject, and why was this information hidden? Thanks for your participation in our discussion.

Thank you, Regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Although not directly related to UFOs, a new space propulsion system that combines propulsion theory and navigation theory is required. The attached treatise and the attached cover book, including the technical point of view, describe at least the flight performance and operational functions called UFOs.

I add a treatise that describes the derived flight performance. The contents of the book introduce the latest research results.

(See "3.6.2 Spaceship Flight Performance and Feature".)

Dear Yoshinari Minami,

Thanks for answering the question:

If and when will humans be able to explore other planetary systems?

Thank you very much for providing interesting publications describing important issues of the discussed issues.

Thank you, Regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

It will be a long long time before we have the ability to send humans outside of our solar system.

Surely.

If the key technological elements are discovered, it is inferred that rapid development is expected as in the history of science and technology so far.

The following latest published articles may be useful for "If and when will humans be able to explore other planetary systems?":

Astrophysical Field Drive Propulsion - Its Conceptual Design for Development -

A Realistic Method of Interstellar Travel

All will depend on technology and resource availability. Already space exploring giants are on their knees due to Covid pandamic. Hence I doubt it will happen in the near future.

Perhaps the James Webb space telescope is much better than the Hubble Telescope in terms of infrared observations, will help to study exoplanets in other planetary systems more precisely than ever before. The James Webb telescope is to be placed in orbit of the Earth in December 2021. This telescope will be the most powerful research instrument that has so far been built by man, which will be placed in orbit of the Earth. The James Webb telescope will allow you to look into very distant galaxies, as far as 13 billion light years from Earth.

What do you think about it?

I invite everyone to the discussion,

Greetings,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Will the James Webb Space Telescope, which is to be placed in Earth orbit, make it possible to take pictures millions of light years away of exoplanets in other planetary systems, other constellations?

Regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

According to CosmosUp (website about space and universe), if there is other life in our solar system, this is their best bet so far http://bit.ly/1C9izpR

📷: NASA/JPL-Caltech

There have been many different proposals for superluminal vehicles made by physicists over the years. Theoretically, we can safely say that we know how to get to the stars. The problem now is a technical one. Will engineers be able to overcome these limitations one day? As an engineer myself, I say of course. Research is already being conducted on feasibility of gravity propelled systems using the alleged Gravitomagnetic effects. The moment we master the craft of traveling to the stars, a whole new vista of opportunities open up.

Dear Rafiq,

Yes, you added to our discussion the interesting question of the possibility of building gravity-propelled interplanetary spacecraft using the so-called gravitomagnetic effects. I agree that if such spaceships could be built, i.e. when we achieve the possibility of traveling to other exoplanets, to other planetary systems located in other constellations, then completely new possibilities will appear. I wonder how many years the research work will be carried out, how long will it take to create the necessary new technologies to be able to build this type of spacecraft? Will it be possible in the current 21st century? What do you think about it?

Thank you very much,

Best wishes,

Dariusz