NASA's Kepler space probe may have discovered five new solar systems and up to 140 Earth-like planets – but is there any hope we could travel to them someday?
The probe found more than 706 potential new planets and possibly five new solar systems. At least five of the 150,000-plus stars studied may have two or more planets in orbit around them that appear similar to Earth, according to the newspaper. Up to 140 are rocky and contain both land and water, conditions that could allow simple life forms to develop and survive.
But what’s needed to reach them? At NASA, breakthrough propulsion is the term used for concepts like space drives and faster-than-light travel. It is being studied as physics rather than technology because the laws of nature that apply first have to be discovered to enable such technology to be built.
The short answer is "yes." Practical human interstellar travel is not merely the province of science fiction. But it will require the globally and transparently unified genius, will, and material efforts of humanity to do so. To read the rest of the article, click here.