I have to write an 8 page paper for my Astronomy class that's due tomorrow. It's on the benefits/developments gained through space exploration (I would appreciate any suggestions), and while I was working on the last paragraph, it started feeling preachy and now I'm worried I'm being naive about what we're not doing.

I feel like we should be out there capturing asteroids, mining those bastards, hollowing them out, turning them into space stations, loading them up with gear to capture/destroy/colonize other asteroids and whatnot that might crash into earth. Trying to colonize Mars, the Moon, Venus, building other space stations, etc.

It legitimately makes me angry and disappoined thinking about all the things I think we COULD be doing, or at least trying, but aren't.

Are we holding ourselves back, because of a lack of funds/commitment, or are we really doing mostly what we can?