The drive to explore space and our solar system is still an important human endeavor

Yes, I do agree. Exploring space and the solar system, is probably the only way to find another planet, to replace the Earth, when we run out of resources. With the earth 'falling ill' now, and with people not conserving the earth's natural resources, we would need another Earth to help us pass the next few million years. This is only possible, by exploring space, and the solar system, hoping that we would luckily dawn upon such a planet.