{"692237":{"#nid":"692237","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Could Aliens Ever Visit Earth? An Aerospace Scientist Unpacks the Challenges of Interstellar Spaceflight","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn May 22, 2026, the Pentagon \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.war.gov\/ufo\/\u0022\u003Ereleased a second batch of previously classified photos and videos\u003C\/a\u003E showing what appear to be unexplained flying objects. These file dumps were the culmination of a process that was set in motion \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/whistleblower-calls-for-government-transparency-as-congress-digs-for-the-truth-about-ufos-210435\u0022\u003Eback in July 2023\u003C\/a\u003E, when a group of government whistleblowers testified before Congress that the U.S. government was secretly in possession of extraterrestrial spacecraft and suspected alien body parts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat congressional hearing marked the beginning of a cultural shift in which UFO reports are increasingly treated as a matter for serious discussion, both within the government \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0376042125000235\u0022\u003Eand the scientific community\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/737219\/original\/file-20260520-57-3z09xd.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.1\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 aria-label=\u0022Zoomable image\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022A grainy photo of a dark, blurry object in the sky.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/737219\/original\/file-20260520-57-3z09xd.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.1\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/737219\/original\/file-20260520-57-3z09xd.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.1\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=338\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/737219\/original\/file-20260520-57-3z09xd.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.1\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=338\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/737219\/original\/file-20260520-57-3z09xd.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.1\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=338\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/737219\/original\/file-20260520-57-3z09xd.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.1\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=424\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/737219\/original\/file-20260520-57-3z09xd.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.1\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=424\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/737219\/original\/file-20260520-57-3z09xd.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.1\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=424\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EThe Pentagon released over 200 previously classified UFO files in May 2026.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution source\u0022\u003EDepartment of Defense\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut is this newfound legitimacy deserved? As \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=CdazOWQAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003Ean aerospace scientist\u003C\/a\u003E who studies aircraft and spacecraft design, I approach this question using math, physics and the principles of engineering. To assess the plausibility of alien visitors, it\u2019s necessary to understand the obstacles that an extraterrestrial vessel would need to overcome to reach Earth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe Tyranny of Distance\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere is no evidence of intelligent alien life in our solar system. So any extraterrestrial visitors would likely have to come from another star system within our Milky Way galaxy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProxima Centauri, the star closest to our Sun, is located \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/earthsky.org\/astronomy-essentials\/proxima-centauri-our-suns-nearest-neighbor\/\u0022\u003E4.25 light-years\u003C\/a\u003E (about 25 trillion miles or 40 trillion kilometers) away.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor perspective, if Earth were the size of a pea, the distance to Proxima Centauri would roughly equal the distance between New York and Sydney, Australia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\u0022440\u0022 height=\u0022260\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dCSIXLIzhzk?wmode=transparent\u0026amp;start=0\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022 allowfullscreen=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EEven the stars closest to Earth are incredibly far away.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince only a fraction of stars are thought to host intelligent life, the nearest alien civilization \u2013 if one exists \u2013 is surely much farther away than Proxima.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EA Need for Speed\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGiven the scale of interstellar distances, it\u2019s inevitable that any alien voyage to Earth would span many years and possibly several centuries. But as the time spent in transit increases, so does the risk of catastrophic accidents or system malfunctions that could jeopardize the mission. So it\u2019s important to avoid an overly lengthy journey by traveling as fast as possible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo object \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.space.com\/36273-theory-special-relativity.html\u0022\u003Ecan reach or exceed the speed of light\u003C\/a\u003E (roughly 186,000 miles or 300,000 kilometers per second). But well before approaching that threshold, engineering constraints begin to assert themselves. Limited fuel availability and the potential for structural damage will restrict the spacecraft\u2019s peak velocity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere is no universally accepted upper limit on interstellar flight speeds, but studies tend to converge \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/362716578_Interstellar_Propulsion_Using_Laser-Driven_Inertial_Confinement_Fusion_Physics\u0022\u003Earound 19,000 miles per second (30,000 km\/s)\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 10% of the speed of light \u2013 as a realistic cruise velocity. At this speed, a journey of 10 light-years will take approximately 100 years to complete.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFueling the Dream\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinding a way to accelerate the ship to its target cruise speed is the central challenge facing any would-be alien explorers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInterstellar space is unforgivingly vast, but the emptiness has some advantages. The lack of atmosphere means there is no \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www1.grc.nasa.gov\/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics\/what-is-drag\/\u0022\u003Eaerodynamic drag\u003C\/a\u003E. So when the ship reaches its cruise speed, it can shut down its propulsion system and coast toward the final destination. Unfortunately, the lack of atmosphere also means there is nothing to slow the ship down prior to arrival. So ideally, the propulsion system would be used for both acceleration at the start of the trip and deceleration at the end.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the more exotic propulsion strategies employs high-powered laser beams to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2514\/6.1998-3403\u0022\u003Epush the ship through space\u003C\/a\u003E. The beam is projected from a stationary array near the travelers\u2019 home planet and directed toward a thin reflective sail attached to the ship. The beam\u2019s photons \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/spacecraft-equipped-with-a-solar-sail-could-deliver-earlier-warnings-of-space-weather-threats-to-earths-technologies-259877\u0022\u003Eexert radiation pressure on the sail\u003C\/a\u003E, propelling the ship forward.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis approach has a major advantage in that it requires no onboard fuel. But the amount of energy and infrastructure needed to operate the laser would be staggering. Also, beamed propulsion provides no mechanism for deceleration. At best, this method could be deployed as part of a hybrid strategy that uses a separate system for deceleration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA more practical approach is to use rocket propulsion. Rockets \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.space.com\/how-rockets-work\u0022\u003Egenerate propulsive force\u003C\/a\u003E, also known as thrust, by expelling high-velocity exhaust in a rearward stream. By reversing the direction of the exhaust, rockets can also be used to slow the ship down.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir main disadvantage is that rockets must carry their own fuel in addition to carrying the passengers, the habitat and other life-sustaining systems. The extra load necessitates even more fuel. In other words, you need fuel to transport your fuel. The result is a costly snowball effect that can cause the total fuel requirement to balloon to absurd proportions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERocket propulsion can be divided into three broad categories.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChemical propulsion uses chemical reactions \u2013 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.grc.nasa.gov\/WWW\/K-12\/airplane\/combst1.html\u0022\u003Etypically combustion\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 to extract energy from the bonds between atoms. All human space missions thus far have used chemical propulsion. The problem with this method is that it accesses only a tiny fraction of the energy contained within the fuel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConsequently, using chemical propulsion on a spacecraft with a cruise velocity of 19,000 miles per second (30,000 km\/s) would require \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scientificamerican.com\/blog\/life-unbounded\/why-chemical-rockets-and-interstellar-travel-dont-mix\/\u0022\u003Emore fuel than all the mass in the observable universe\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.howstuffworks.com\/antimatter.htm\u0022\u003EAntimatter propulsion\u003C\/a\u003E is theoretically the most efficient option. When antimatter comes into contact with ordinary matter, the two undergo mutual annihilation and 100% of their combined mass is converted into energy. This makes it possible to achieve the same cruise velocity \u2013 one-tenth the speed of light \u2013 with fuel accounting for less than a quarter of the ship\u2019s total mass. This is science fiction-level fuel efficiency, which makes antimatter an attractive option for interstellar propulsion.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe downside is that antimatter is extremely unstable and difficult to make. To date, particle physicists have produced \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.niac.usra.edu\/files\/studies\/final_report\/1071Bickford.pdf\u0022\u003Eless than 20 billionths of a gram of antimatter\u003C\/a\u003E. Moreover, these particles had lifespans lasting only fractions of a second and a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/space-rocks-and-asteroid-dust-are-pricey-but-these-arent-the-most-expensive-materials-used-in-science-214614\u0022\u003Eprice tag in the hundreds of millions of dollars\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/nuclear-fusion-could-one-day-be-a-viable-clean-energy-source-but-big-engineering-challenges-stand-in-the-way-237544\u0022\u003ENuclear fusion\u003C\/a\u003E offers a more viable alternative to antimatter. This approach harvests energy stored inside the nucleus of an atom using the same process that powers the Sun. With current technology, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/nuclear-rockets-could-travel-to-mars-in-half-the-time-but-designing-the-reactors-that-would-power-them-isnt-easy-236463\u0022\u003Efusion engines remain aspirational\u003C\/a\u003E, but they could, in theory, produce \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/general\/the-fusion-driven-rocket-nuclear-propulsion-through-direct-conversion-of-fusion-energy\u0022\u003E10 million times more energy per kilogram\u003C\/a\u003E than chemical rockets.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/335876\/original\/file-20200518-83393-1ygu5b7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.1\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 aria-label=\u0022Zoomable image\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022An illustration of a cylindrical spacecraft orbiting Earth\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/335876\/original\/file-20200518-83393-1ygu5b7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.1\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/335876\/original\/file-20200518-83393-1ygu5b7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.1\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=338\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/335876\/original\/file-20200518-83393-1ygu5b7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.1\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=338\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/335876\/original\/file-20200518-83393-1ygu5b7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.1\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=338\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/335876\/original\/file-20200518-83393-1ygu5b7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.1\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=424\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/335876\/original\/file-20200518-83393-1ygu5b7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.1\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=424\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/335876\/original\/file-20200518-83393-1ygu5b7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.1\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=424\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003ENASA has been working to develop nuclear propulsion. This artist\u2019s impression shows what a nuclear-powered rocket could look like.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nuclear_thermal_rocket#\/media\/File:Orion_docked_to_Mars_Transfer_Vehicle.jpg\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EJohn Frassanito \u0026amp; Associates\/Wikipedia\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStill, a fusion-powered ship with a cruise velocity of 19,000 miles per second (30,000 km\/s) \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/i4is.org\/reaching-the-stars-in-a-century-using-fusion-propulsion\/#gsc.tab=0\u0022\u003Ewould require fuel equivalent to 150 times the mass of the ship itself\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EA Delicate Balancing Act\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese numbers assume that our extraterrestrial visitors have figured out how to efficiently convert the energy released by their reactor \u2013 whether nuclear fusion or antimatter \u2013 into thrust.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJust as importantly, they must be able to create optimized fuel tank structures that are ultra lightweight yet highly secure. Designing the structure of the ship, from the fuel tanks to the hull, would be one of the biggest engineering challenges of the entire mission.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/what-is-space-made-of-an-astrophysics-expert-explains-all-the-components-from-radiation-to-dark-matter-found-in-the-vacuum-of-space-235402\u0022\u003EInterstellar space\u003C\/a\u003E contains a sparse smattering of hydrogen atoms and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.actaastro.2017.10.014\u0022\u003Emicroscopic grains of cosmic dust\u003C\/a\u003E. At 19,000 miles per second (30,000 km\/s), dust particles would smash into the ship\u2019s hull with the energy of a .22-caliber bullet. The bombardment of hydrogen atoms would produce a violent cascade of radiation that could erode even the most resilient engineering materials.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESurviving the onslaught would require no less than a flying fortress with complex magnetic shielding. This would increase the total mass of the ship, which further drives up the demand for fuel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis example is just one of the hundreds of delicate design trade-offs that would plague any interstellar vessel. Each individual design requirement acts as a filter, reducing the number of feasible solutions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinding a single system that simultaneously satisfies all the requirements is analogous to shopping for a car online. With each new filter you apply \u2013 four-wheel drive, black exterior, less than 10,000 miles on the odometer \u2013 the number of available options dwindles.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen design requirements are in tension with one another \u2013 for example, requiring a structure that is lightweight but also supremely durable \u2013 the number of feasible solutions can drop to zero.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo single law of physics prohibits an interstellar voyage to Earth. But the combined effects of hundreds of extreme, often conflicting engineering requirements may render it physically infeasible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s also possible that alien civilizations have discovered novel technologies that outperform anything currently known to humans. But like the examples discussed here, any such technology will inevitably encounter its own engineering hurdles.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe Trillion-Dollar Question\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUltimately, engineering challenges are just some of the many barriers to interstellar travel. Any prospective alien visitors must also have sufficient cognitive ability, technological maturity, physical resources, collective desire and proximity to Earth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat said, if the stars were to align and an alien vessel made it to Earth intact, it would trigger a torrent of burning questions: Where are they from? What do they want? What are they made of?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut the question that would go furthest in shedding light on the deeper mysteries of the universe is, \u201cHow on Earth did they get here?\u201d\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/280657\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/could-aliens-ever-visit-earth-an-aerospace-scientist-unpacks-the-challenges-of-interstellar-spaceflight-280657\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETo assess the plausibility of alien visitors, it\u2019s necessary to understand the obstacles that an extraterrestrial vessel would need to overcome to reach Earth.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"To assess the plausibility of alien visitors, it\u2019s necessary to understand the obstacles that an extraterrestrial vessel would need to overcome to reach Earth."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2026-09-03 12:37:47","changed_gmt":"2026-09-03 12:41:30","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-26T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-26T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"681054":{"id":"681054","type":"image","title":"The universe is vast and teeming with stars \u2013 but if intelligent life exists, it may not be able to visit Earth. ","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe universe is vast and teeming with stars \u2013 but if intelligent life exists, it may not be able to visit Earth. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/nasawebbtelescope\/55065929901\u0022\u003ENASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Rohan Naidu (MIT); Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\u0022\u003ECC BY\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1788439142","gmt_created":"2026-09-03 12:39:02","changed":"1788439142","gmt_changed":"2026-09-03 12:39:02","alt":"The universe is vast and teeming with stars \u2013 but if intelligent life exists, it may not be able to visit Earth. ","file":{"fid":"265405","name":"file-20260519-57-jdtmaj.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/09\/03\/file-20260519-57-jdtmaj.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/09\/03\/file-20260519-57-jdtmaj.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":237989,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/09\/03\/file-20260519-57-jdtmaj.jpg?itok=hfsJbr91"}}},"media_ids":["681054"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/could-aliens-ever-visit-earth-an-aerospace-scientist-unpacks-the-challenges-of-interstellar-spaceflight-280657","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"660364","name":"Aerospace Engineering"},{"id":"1237","name":"College of Engineering"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/kai-james-2263500\u0022\u003EKai James\u003C\/a\u003E, Professor of Aerospace Engineering, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}