The Moon & Beyond
Eventually humanity will have to leave this planet we call Earth, its not a matter of when but if. I mean sure, in all likely-hood it'll be a few million years at best. That's a long time from now, and considering we're a species that can hardly look past our own generation that could be a problem. I mean after all, why the hell should we care about space travel if we're not going to reap the benefits here and now eh? Or at least that's how the majority feels, because after all humans are very selfish creatures.

Anyway the point is, manned spaceflight flight needs to be continued if only to keep the dream alive. Sure there aren't enough scientific reason for manned spaceflight to be worth it, but that isn't the full picture is it? There are always going to be problems here on earth, ALWAYS, utopia wouldn't be on the horizon if we stopped space travel. On the other hand, your talking about manned spaceflight which will eventually lead to us leaving earth and eventually our solar system.

Of course the pessimist among us would claim that there isn't any point anyway, because we'll make our species extinct before nature even gets its chance. What with the problem of being unable to get along as a species. That being said its a bit of conundrum after all the thing that insures we actually do these things like put men on the moon is conflict between factions of the human race. Competition, even nuclear Competition can and does so much more for our development as a species than international corporation. Yet its also the thing that may lead to our demise as a species early.