re: Lagrange points and asteroids
Ok, so no Moon base..
Instead a mission to a Lagrange point (it's empty space) but what for ? To repair telescopes? Perhaps.
A mission to an asteroid...It's going to take months (if little fuel is used, the mission could last 6 months and the asteroid encounter....2 days).
The Moon can be used as a testing place for spacecrafts to asteroids (an unpressurized reconnaissance vehicle)