We would need a significant technological boost to be able to see the surfaces of alien worlds, I think that technology alone would be a candidate for innovation. After all whether or not we find aliens is not dependant on the technology but depending on if there are any to find.
Like the recently anounced nuclear reactor ?
I don’t think that is as big as the moon landing. Finding alien life would be more in the same vein.
We would need a significant technological boost to be able to see the surfaces of alien worlds, I think that technology alone would be a candidate for innovation. After all whether or not we find aliens is not dependant on the technology but depending on if there are any to find.