danielravennest t1_irj6qtb wrote on October 8, 2022 at 5:00 PM

Reply to comment by IWantAHoverbike in "A tiny snippet from our new #JWST data, showing a planetary system in the making, floating in space & silhouetted against the bright background light of the Orion Nebula." by TelescopeFeed

We don't know, because of the arrival paradox. If technology is improving, a later mission can travel faster and arrive sooner. So there is no reason to attempt a trip until (1) the trip time is short enough that you won't be overtaken by a faster mission, or (2) technology has reached some limit and isn't improving.

For interstellar trips, neither condition is met right now. For solar system trips, we are working on better propulsion such that any trip over 20 years that started today is likely to be overtaken.