[zspade]

What could any explorers in the history of mankind do when they got to an unpopulated island or continent? Spread, inhabit, and help ensure the survival of their species.

Whether or not you agree, some people like the idea of humanity surviving as a multi-solar system species.

I'm not sure Alpha Centauri has any inhabitable planets, at least for our biology as it stands today, but what we learn along the way might render that moot.

[ChrisSD]

See my reply to adrianN. Getting there is only a small part of the hurdle to establishing a viable colony, let alone one that can prosper enough to spread further.