Testimony of Dr. Sara Seager: Hearing on Astrobiology
It is within the power of our influence to cross the great historical threshold and be the first generation in human history to map the nearby exoplanetary systems and find signs of life on other Earth-like worlds. As a country, this achievement may prove to be our greatest legacy. As a species, it may be the beginning of our boldest adventure. I imagine that hundreds or a thousand years from now, our descendants will find a way to travel to these nearby star systems, and embarking on their interstellar journey will look back upon us here in the 21st century as those who first found the Earth-like worlds.