"John Ordover" wrote in message
m...
"Ultimate Buu" wrote in message
.. .
In a decade or so, we may be able to detect Earth-like planets using
spacecraft currently being developed. We may even be able to detect
evidence
for life on such planets (detection of methane through spectroscopy) and
even chlorophyll (?).

What could the discovery of such a planet lead to? An interstellar
mission
using solar-sails? Plans for colonization? Focussing of SETI on such
star-systems?

I think SETI would be interested, but I can't see that anything else
would change. Even if it was Alpha C., we'd still never get a probe
there in any reasonable amount of time.

Define reasonable.

If you wanted to put in the investment I don't see building a Daedalus style
device as an unreasonable timescale. About 50 years flight time as I
recall.