Astronomers just discovered the closest possible Earth-like planet outside our solar system. It orbits our closest neighboring star, Proxima Centauri. The planet is warm enough for liquid water, it is almost certainly rocky and terrestrial, and it could even have an atmosphere. At just 4.2 light years away, scientists are even wondering if this may be the closest home for life outside our solar system.   –William Herkewitz, author, Aug. 24, 2016

Astrophysicists are confident that we can soon send a probe to Proxima B, a small dwarf planet in orbit around Proxima Centauri, our nearest neighboring star in search of a new home.  I would like to share their optimism.  Here are a few of the earthly obstacles that stand in my way: 

If we could build a space craft that could achieve one-half the speed of light, or 334.8 million mph it would still take 8.4 years to reach the nearest star. That is an indication of our needed state of technology before we could even begin the task of sending a probe there to assess the habitability of Proxima B.  That is an order of magnitude that is approximately 25 times our present abilities.  That date would likely be about 25 generations into the future, or 625 years.  We might set a target date of 2,641 AD as our earliest date for that probe.   

Habitability is a bigger obstacle.  It implies at a minimum the presence of an atmosphere, water, and a magnetic field that could protect Proxima B from charged particles thrown at it by solar winds.  The odds are against the collective probabilities that all are present.  But let’s assume that our nearest neighbor is habitable. It would likely take until the year 3,000 AD before we might have the ability to put together all the hardware and life support systems in order to actually set foot on that planet. 

But long before we could realistically think in terms of hardware or life support systems, and all the health and biological issues we would need to surmount, we would need to probe our own minds to find the psychology, the temperament, and the will to want to survive together on our present planet.  And that would need to be preceded by the resolve to stop killing each other, and the desire to begin a new way of life by going down an avenue of peace and tranquility where we have a much higher respect for each other.   

Can we do it?  If past is prologue, we don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell.  But there is still a tiny glimmer of hope.  Logic compels me to acknowledge that I cannot prove beyond all possible doubt that we cannot do it.  Therefore, we have about 100 years in which to change our behaviors on a massive scale in search of that miraculous conversion of hearts and minds among all of Earth’s mortal beings.   

Still, psychologists tell us we cannot change anything until we first acknowledge that we have something that needs to be changed. That should be the easiest obstacle. But wars and killings are today’s norm, and we have yet to show a propensity to want to change our suicidal march to oblivion. 

If you agree that a desire to change is at the heart of the matter, then you also have the best audience, the most receptive audience, the most welcoming audience in your own kids.  Kids seem to know how to get along with each other—until they watch how we behave. Then all bets are off. 

It’s a long shot, but if our survival requires an intra-galactic rendezvous with destiny, we all had better get started on that road to change now.  The clock is ticking…