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It turns out that manned space flight capability just isn't very useful.

Taking a page from Seveneves, what is the minimum set of robotics required for parity with the general-purpose abilities of a human astronaut?

Humans can repair electronics, perform assembly in space and run a wide variety of experiments. Automation works, but it's hard to make as general-purpose.

It's much cheaper (and safer) to throw away a satellite than to develop and fly a shuttle.

I'm in agreement with you there. but launching a new satellite for every task rapidly gets expensive. could you imagine the ISS being assembled by satellites alone? humans are good at assembling and maintaining things.

asteroid mining will provide an impetus to develop assembly robots capable of matching human flexibility and autonomy. we're not there yet, though.

Until people want to go to space and especially other planets. Get the cost down and many people will pay their own way. This is Elon Musk's goal for SpaceX. Tim Urban gives a good explanation here[1].

[1]https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/08/how-and-why-spacex-will-colon...

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