[caldrail]

I don't think mankind will do much more than sporadic Solar System explorations until at least two of "Star Trek" assumptions become true:

1) All people around the world work together for the common interest;

2) A whole new technology for traveling quickly to extreme distances becomes available.

And, to be honest, it looks to me that an united world is far more science fiction than a warp engine... :-?

Nor is it a good thing. Does that sound a bit less than the usual 'I want world peace' thing? TYhe fact is human beings, whether they like it or not, are a species of life on this planet. Competition between us maintains our strength, both because of the need to be able to repsond and the darwinian survival of the fittest. Now before anyone assumes I'm a right wing neo-fascist or something, I'm not talking about the usual bigotry between race or creed that goes on in the world though obviously this nasty side of human character will always exist - it's what we are.

Note that societies that are basically peaceful tend to be conquered somewhat easily. If we achieve peace, humanity would eventually become rather like dodo's. Docile, witless creatures. Nature does that. Certain qualities vanish if they aren't needed, both in physical and behavioural traits. It is unfortunately our competivive nature, our social behaviour, and our latent aggression that makes us a successful species besides the usual quotes of intelligence and language skills. In fact, we're the only species of human being still left. The others have died out, and even we nearly vanished competely at one point in prehistory.

Personally I don't like the extent to which humanity squabbles and harms. Sadly that's the nature of the beast, and also the result of our adaption to our enviroments.