Say that some time in the future man has discovered a star system with interesting signs of Life and other most curious circumstances. We very eagerly want to
go there, it is a top priority. Travel in a self-supporting spaceship will take 1000 years. Hybernation will not be possible, life will go on with the usual 24
hour rythm of wake and sleep. Unless we have come up with a way of prolonging life, some 12 - 15 generations of humans (the ones where birth replace death)
will be live and die on the ship, before the destination is reached. Among them the project's most driving scientists.
Say that on the way, it's possible to make a choice of a detour to another star system of some interest. The detour would take an additional 45 years. That star system is not at all an important priority, but still holds some mild curiosity. Much like when out on a hike tour, you can't decide whether to take some extra time to go off and visit a point which isn't really so significant.
Is another 45 years anything to fuzz about in a 1000 year span? Whose perspective is to be considered here? The overall plan far beyond individual lives? Or the eagerness of distant future generations to finally reach the final destination? How would man react to this philosophically, and emotionally?
Say that on the way, it's possible to make a choice of a detour to another star system of some interest. The detour would take an additional 45 years. That star system is not at all an important priority, but still holds some mild curiosity. Much like when out on a hike tour, you can't decide whether to take some extra time to go off and visit a point which isn't really so significant.
Is another 45 years anything to fuzz about in a 1000 year span? Whose perspective is to be considered here? The overall plan far beyond individual lives? Or the eagerness of distant future generations to finally reach the final destination? How would man react to this philosophically, and emotionally?
