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Originally Posted by DrWho
As I see it, the only way to 'master the stars" is to do it by not traveling. Anything requiring any kind of propulsion is going to be inadequate (though fine for the solar system). We really need to find some kind of shortcut to displace vast distances, like space folding and whatnot, otherwise I don't see us going much farther than solar system.
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Depends on a lot of factors. If we can eventually create a space-habitat with full or nearly full material enclosure (recycling of resources) then generation ships become a real possibility. Things like true AI/mind downloads/life extension/medical hibernatory stasis could all make single-generation journeys possible too. And of course, trying to guess what types of propulsion will become possible in several centuries is like a Renaissance philosopher speculating about 20th century aircraft; likely to be not just wrong, but vastly wrong.
As for FTL, I doubt it will happen. But we may not need it by the time it becomes an issue.
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