Searching for Extraterrestrial Life in Alpha Centauri

The Alpha Centauri system is a prime target for the search for extraterrestrial life due to its proximity and potential for rocky, habitable planets. Proxima b, the confirmed planet in the habitable zone, may not be suitable for life due to its proximity to its star and lack of a magnetic field. The possible Neptune-size planet around Alpha Centauri A is likely a gas giant, but the search for a rocky, potentially habitable planet continues. A new propulsion system, pellet-beam propulsion, has been proposed that could potentially reach interstellar space in less than five years, but the distance to Alpha Centauri remains a significant challenge.