its kind of disheartening to think we're in our infancy in terms of space exploration ?

I'm old enough that I worked for three years on the Apollo Project, and had a three day party at my home to watch during the arrival and landing on July 20, 1969.  And yes, I knew even then it was unlikely I would live to see interstellar travel, but had hoped to see the first permanent lunar base and landing of people on Mars.

There's a probability-based argument that we are not in our infancy, but that space exploration will soon cease.  If humans were going to go out and colonise the Galaxy, the chances of being born before that happens are vanishingly small, so the fact that we are living now strongly suggests that we will never visit or settle anywhere trans lunar.

What evidence is there that there is significantly more to "space exploration" than what we already have? No other species on Earth does more than we do, and no other species elsewhere in the universe (assuming they exist\) shows any evidence of having it. Remember: all the fancy ideas that you have about "space exploration" were no doubt derived from fiction such as Star Trek, Star Wars, and old Flash Gordon movies. Fiction is no guide to reality. The notion that "we are in our infancy" is just a cultural assumption with no evidence to support it. It is entirely probable that all the technology that we have which is relevant to space exploration is all that there is.

And the high opinion that space enthusiasts have about their hobby is really just typical of any fanatical pursuit. Bird watchers no doubt think that bird watching is the most important thing in the world and we should be spending more money on it. Same with railway enthusiasts, ship enthusiasts, home builders, politicians, etc. 

Actually it is hard to think of something LESS relevant to the needs of human civilization, and indeed all life on Earth than space exploration. But one thing that is noticeable about the space community is that we are TOLD that it is oh so important, and because we are associated with it, we are supposed to feel special. Always be wary of those who tell you you are important, or who imply it. 

At this late stage of civilization, we must make the preservation of the biosphere on Earth our first priority if humanity is going to have any kind of future. Time is running out. The global economy is already deep in debt, and it is only a matter of time before the financial edifice collapses. One sure way to speed up the collapse is to put the global economy into even more unproductive debt. An increase of spending on sending tin cans with people in them up into outer space at a trillion dollars a pop is the way to finally "break the camel's back".

I think if you broadened your horizons and got out of the space rut you wil find that there are far more things going on to be upset about than whether we go up into space  or not. I would suggest learning about ecology, the incredible biodiversity on Earth and how it is shrinking fast, history both ancient and modern will warn you of the lessons we have failed to learn, a quick course in psychology, chemistry, biology, economics and physics would be a worthwhile way to broaden your knowledge base.

We lived without space exploration for hundreds of thousands of years. There is little if any evidence that we are happier today because of it. It is only one out of a great many fields of discovery and adventure, many of which do indeed still have a long way to go. Try not to obsess over space to the exclusion of all else.

When we were condemned to this planet the Creator did not have fun in mind. It was pathos and tragedy. 

Things are moving forward

Around the time of the Moon Landings, literally nothing was known about the Outer Planets

We have went from that to finding the most Volcanic Body in the Solar System, Io, and Europa with a Subterranian Ocean and possible life

 So to Enceladus with its wonderful Plumes

Even Pluto has been snapped and further

It does seem that everywhere we look there is ice

Ice is frozen water to some degree and even Pluto has Icebergs floating on liquid Nitrogen

Water = possible life and the whole Solar System has had at least 4.5 Billion years for Evolution

It could be all around us in some form

So dont Knock Probes, we have learnt a lot

It has been well Known that to put Humans in Spce at all costs

Not only for the Hardware but for survival needs and comforts

Probes dont need all that

But dont despair, we are still in our Infancy when it comes to Conquering Space but we will get there

Who knows what the future will bring ??

kind of, but not much we can do about it

>>its kind of disheartening to think we're in our 

>>infancy in terms of space exploration ?

You think so...?  I dunno - it's like being at the beginning of something huge... Like, watching the Wright Brothers try their first flights at Kittyhawk.  We're finally sending *humans* off the *planet*...   I find that pretty damn cool...

>>and that we'll all be dead long before the human race 

>>makes any notable achievement other than putting

>>probes on planets and satellites in space that orbit earth.

Maybe you forgot about the first man in space, or the first spacewalk, or the first steps on the moon, or the first space station being built, or the first international effort in space...  

>>i wonder how much money is needed or required 

>>in order to 'speed up' the entire thing, space exploration 

>>surely must be at the forefront of human beings needs.

We agree on this;  I think much of the problem lies in education and politics... It's perceived that NASA does things on a whim, with no return on investment;  there's nothing that teaches how much technology has been developed for use by NASA in the commercial world... that's where the true disheartening feeling is - people are using devices and machines everyday that have had either their start with NASA, or have been improved by them - and they still would rather divert money to other programs.

>>we must surely be investing all we have, and 

>>more on just this.

Military expenditures far outweigh what our manned space program receive... imagine if NASA got only 10% of what the Pentagon spends.... We've have bases throughout the solar system. 

>>to get the heck off this planet and find new places to visit..

>>yet we can barely reach the moon. how upsetting.

Like all things... you gotta start somewhere.  I was fortunate enough to remember Gemini, and the walks on the moon.   The reason *I* think we should be going to space isn't just for exploration - although that's part of it... the fact is, Earth won't last forever.  There *will* be a day when Earth can no longer support humankind... if we're not able to travel into space, live there independently from Earth, not only survive there, but thrive - then, we're doomed to die when that day arrives... that's why we should be going to space.  This home is only temporary, and it would make sense to find a new one as soon as we're able...

There are several issues here.

Yes, more money and resources, committed for decade plus lengths of time, would help develop more efficient launch systems, and reduce the costs of launches.

The next problem is that there really isn't a good substitute for Earth for settlement purposes in this solar system. Bases on the Moon or Mars would require a lot of life support and long term residency on either would weaken the resident such that they might not be able to withstand Earth gravity if they wanted to come back.

Space based habitats, such as O'Neil cylinders, could work better, but they'd have to be built in space, which requires a far greater infrastructure then even a few decades of serious investment could create.

War. Fighter jets. Numbers. Bombs and missiles. Millions on men in armies. Ships and small arms.  All money NASA ever got would prolly not support America's War Machine for a year.

Sad that USA won't outlaw landmines. THEN propose outlawing MISSILES. We DID outlaw chemical warfare... until dick "shotgun-'em-in-the-face" chaney sold sarin gas to Saddamn. Well, it was still outlawed...

Our cybernetic successors will conquer the Galaxy.