[estelle]

Actually, Elok, it would take significatly longer to get to AC than a couple of decades. The fastest spaceship to date was Helios, and it went upwards of 150,000 MPH. Going that fast the trip to AC would take over 170,000 years. Whatever ship goes to AC, would have to go significantly faster for it to be even a remote possibility.

I also think you are on to something about the economic returns on the trip. While the actually colony and ship would have no monetary return, the technologies gained in trying to get there could be exploited for profit (simlar to how some aspects of the movie Contact went). So one of the economic questions would be: Could companies get a profit out of the techs needed to go to AC?

Underwater cities are a great idea! So great, you should go start your own thread!