If we confirmed extraterrestrial life, how might this impact our strategies for future space missions and our quest for interstellar travel?

ANSWER: If we confirmed extraterrestrial life, future space missions would prioritize biosecurity to prevent contamination both ways and focus on ethical protocols for interactions. Missions would intensify the search for life-friendly environments and technological advancements for long-distance communication and travel. This quest could lead to collaborative efforts for interstellar travel technologies, possibly drawing from extraterrestrial examples, and a reinvigorated interest in exploring and understanding our cosmic neighborhood to foster peaceful and beneficial relationships.