OK, lets just go to another star system in our own galaxy, say 1000 light years away, at 0.999 light speed.

1000/0.999=1001 years earth time

I^2 = 1001^2-1000^2

= 2001^2

= 44 years

A very young astronaut could go to a very distant planet and come back to report his findings as a very old man.

Alpha Centauri is less than 5 light years away, so near-space travel is starting to look doable. Then again, try getting a massive space ship going that fast. Not a trivial task.

Hey, as long as we can get internet access and can surf PPOT, it's no big deal. :)