'Second Earth' Found, 5 Ways To Get There

                              Proxima b might have the right conditions to support life, but its 4.3 lightyears away and the trip would take conventional rockets thousands of years. Some technologies that might take us there:

 1.   IONIC PROPULSION

Once considered the stuff of science fiction, ion drives have now been tested in a number of spacecraft. The idea is to use electrical energy to propel charged molecules of gas, or ions, from a thruster. Far more fuel-efficient than a traditional rocket and, despite a weaker thrust, allows a long period of acceleration.

 2.   NUCLEAR THERMAL PROPULSION

Uses N-reactions to heat up liquid hydrogen and channel it to generate thrust. Estimates say such an engine could power a spaceship to mars in just 90 days.

 3.   LASER SAIL

It involves shining a powerful laser beam on a large ‘sail’ to push spacecraft forward. Concept is simple, but has the potential to generate velocities up to half the speed of light and beyond. Could help reach Proxima b in 20-25 years.

 4.   NUCLEAR PULSE PROPULSION

The idea is to explode a series of N-bombs behind a spacecraft for powerful accelerating force. Such a spaceship could reach velocities as high as 5% of the speed of light but it is costly and unsafe.

 5.   FUSION ROCKETS

Here, deuterium and helium-3 pellets are ignited in a fusion reaction, the same nuclear force that power the Sun, to generate a high-energy gas that can be used to provide thrust. A two-stage fusion rocket could make it possible to travel to Proxima b in 36 years. But fusion power is still in its infancy.