A Probe for Gliese 581

[andygates]

Gliese 581 is a red dwarf about 20.3 light-years away, and it's got the best candidate yet for an exoplanet with life.  Gliese 581 d is small and it's in the habitable zone - "the first serious water world candidate" say the discoverers. 

So: a possible life-supporting world only 20.3 LY away.  Come on, that's an absolute no-brainer.  Start speccing a probe right this minute.  There's the possibility we might not be dead by the time it reports back (if it's quick enough) and our kids can have something awesome to look forward to. 

And in the meantime if we find a better, closer candidate, the mission can be pointed that way any time before launch.

Comments

[jonnycowbells.livejournal.com]

Invented a new propulsion system for interstellar travel have we?

[andygates.livejournal.com]

Solar sail, big ion drive and a captive rock... Woodward momentum-stealing maybe?

[despaer.livejournal.com]

Probably not worth launching anything with current tech. Current tech could support at best about 10AU/year, this is about 1/6000c. Far better to try and spec a sensible engine and launch when that's finished

[andygates.livejournal.com]

I'll get cracking. :)