Thanks for the mention am_Unition! The current state of global economics is based on the 20th century mainstay that demand is unlimited and that resources are limited. This is a purely global idea, and the reality that our asteroid belt contains a basically unlimited supply of capital resources (the bulk of the periodic table in one form or another) will eventually shatter it and force us to think in "solar" terms. The company or country who gets the head start on mining the asteroid belt will accrue more wealth than anyone or anything ever has before. Current technology makes this possible, but it is very inefficient and lacking puzzle pieces (like how to get the raw materials back to the surface of our planet). The country or company that finishes the puzzle will be the dominant force in human society for a long, long time. We have conceptualized the answers to these questions, space elevators and 0g mining robots, so really all that needs to happen is the actual manufacturing of them. This is all inevitable. If I, a double minor in Astronomy and Economics a decade ago can put the pieces together then you can bet your ass that someone with a lot more education on the matter and a lot more money is already on top of it. Or will be soon. It won't be NASA because that would require the bulk of the US population and (snicker) government to have this epiphany. My money is on a multi-national corporation that can shoulder the initial investment without a great deal of infighting, knowing that the return will be unprecedented. Poor NASA doesn't stand a chance, at this point their role is applied R&D in the larger picture. They should brace to have their ranks pilfered as corporate space programs build up, and can offer the greatest minds a salary that NASA could never match. Hope that was relevant to the discussion!