[gkihueonhjh]

[1] What if we find a dinky di Earth like planet within say 100 L/years distant?

[2] What if we find irrefutable evidence of ETI within say 100 L/years distant?


Would we then stick our collective heads together to reach such a planet?
Would we stick our collective heads together to try and make contact with said ETI?

Sticking our collective heads together I suggest in the first instant we would build a generation type space ship to reach such a planet using one of many or a combination of drives to propel us there...solar sails...Ion drives...Nuclear propulsion methods.
In the mean time further progress and technological advancements could very well see a generation type ship be overtaken.
What if we discover how to manipulate space/time [warp drive for instant] Yes most probably it will be "New Physics" but then it was "New Physics" just over 100 years ago that gave us a new picture of the Universe we live in.
Even more incredible, it is only just over 100 years that we learnt how to conquer atmospheric flight with heavier then air machines....All in 100 years!
Remembering of course that while reaching for the stars, we will create benefits with every step along the way.


With number [2] if we find evidence of ETI, I suggest that we would try and make contact with such a species, just as I believe they would try and make contact with us. Let's presume that the ETI and us are reasonably close in technological achievements and capabilities.
Just as I believe we would not make any approach to them that could be mistaken for aggression, so to I believe they would not be making any aggressive approach to us.
As in [1] I reckon we would pool our collective heads together to try and reach them [maybe in a generation type ship again] ....
Going to the extreme some would probably scream blue murder and cut their throats to learn that we are not "IT"
It could on the other hand give some Christian missionaries imputus to go forth and reap what the Lord has sown.
Then we could have the dreaded militarists amongst us dreaming up reasons for a more hostile approach.

All in all I think in the main, we would take both issues as they came, and cool sensible heads would prevail without the need for any extreme action.




In conclusion, I found this little ditty...and as you guessed I quite like it.

The best way to predict the future is to create it.