[cripplecreek]

But the speed issues will probably get solved in a curve anyway, so somewhere along the lines we’ll be able to navigate the solar system in weeks or days before we get any kind of warp drive.

I think the next big leap will be with manufacturing in space. People seem to forget the enormous cost of launch from the surface of earth. Bigger really is better in space but its also harder to launch from the surface. That's why I'm hoping for real success from the companies working toward mining asteroids.

[discostu]

Building escaped from the gravity well will be huge. Of course building that first dry dock will be a massive undertaking.