The lights of the Mariposa were growing dim in the distance, and there he was, swimming confidently, as though it were his intention to make for the nearest land a thousand miles or so away.

Fair question. After all, if we can detect gravitational waves, or send a probe to land on a comet, surely we can send some rubbish to our nearest star?

Although it is thousands of kilometers away from us, maybe it is the nearest pure land and paradise we can find.