Short Answer 
A light-year measures approximately 9.5 trillion kilometers, emphasizing the vastness of space. Current technology cannot approach the speed of light, making interstellar travel extremely challenging; it would take about 300,000 years to travel just one light-year with today’s methods.
Step 1: Understand the Distance of a Light-Year
The distance of 1 light-year is an astonishing 9.5 trillion kilometers. This vast measurement is the distance that light travels in one year, highlighting the immense scale of space. It is fundamental to grasp this distance to comprehend the challenge of space travel.
Step 2: Recognize the Limitations of Current Technology
Currently, we do not possess the capability to travel at or near the speed of light, which is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second. As a result, using our present technology, we cannot cover the vast distances of space efficiently, making interstellar travel seem almost impossible with existing methods.
Step 3: Calculate Travel Time to a Light-Year
To find out how long it would take to travel 1 light-year with today’s technology, consider the following steps:
- Calculate the time in seconds: approximately 9.5 trillion seconds are needed to cover 1 light-year.
- Convert seconds into years: there are about 31.5 million seconds in a year.
- This leads to a travel time of approximately 300,000 years to reach 1 light-year with current technology.