This is largely because only recently has rocket technology gotten cheap enough for private investors to afford. After all, at the beginning of my career computers were so expensive that only a few banks and universities could afford one. Add to that foot-dragging by governments who are reluctant to allow private parties to take physical risks.
I don't disagree with that, but the real bottom line is that it takes a huge amount of energy per kilogram per second escape the earth's atmosphere. That translates into huge $$$/kg/s. Cheaper forms of energy will have to be found, or we will have to wait until people become affluent enough to cover such costs. Technological innovation pushes the former, and capitalism (freedom) the latter.