Getting a bit deep, but I believe Space exploration is not just important but essential for sorting ourselves out.
Humans need something to strive towards, we are adventurous and endeavour by our very nature, we have explored every corner of our planet, and while our basic instincts our now fulfilled with material wealth 'capitalism' this will not last much longer. I feel the idea that creating wealth is an important part of life is failing, the marketplace has already seen trends this century from material spending to experience spending.

With the days of the Great Wars seemingly over (we hope), and to keep it that way humanity need a new focus.

the trickle down affect from space exploration would be huge, and when the possibilities of space start becoming a reality, trivial things like Borders, nationality, religious ideologies will fall into needlessness.