[longtermmemmory]

The key is going to be to make money. Outside of tourism, there has to be an industry to be in space. You also need maned rockets that are able to use existing airports.

[Salgak]

Solar Power Satellites. Helium-3 mining of the Lunar regolith for fueling practical Fusion powerplants. Zero-G growing of semiconductor crystals: Zero-g alloys of otherwise immiscible metals. Asteroid mining. For Starters....

And, of course, the sale of high-quality vaccum to fill electronic and picture tubes. (g)

[Salgak]

Oh, and as for rockets that can use Airports: McDonnell-Douglas was working that 5+ years ago with the DC-X/ Delta Clipper project: Single Stage To Orbit: Rockets the way God and Heinlein intended (g)

[RightWhale]

there has to be an industry to be in space

Asteroid mining is the only major industry that can be profitable right now.