In the early days of the shuttle program, I recall an editorial in Analog magazine discussing what to do when, not if, a shuttle flight fatally failed. There’s the brand of sci-fi that falls into the category of “speculative fiction”, or hard sci-fi, and then there’s science fantasy and the like.* Any real fan of the former knew (and knows) well what the risks are. Most would jump at the chance to go into space, even at current risk levels.
The truth is, space flight will never become 1/10th as safe as present day aviation, unless space flight is done 10x, perhaps 100x more than what NASA and it’s equivalents around the world can do. Just as what “aviation tourism” and other high(?) risk “public” aviation travel” did for aviation in the early days of that endeavor, the development of safe human space flight needs similar “input”, support, and “numbers”.
The other side of it is what will happen without a continuous push to go to space in a significant way. Humanity will “end” early. It’s that simple.
*Though sometimes enjoyable, there is VERY little “sci” in Star Wars. Star Trek was only a bit better, with an occasional half-decent sci-fi script or idea sneaking in.
The sad comment on humanity is the lack of overall vision. Where we once celebrated the pioneers, those who pushed back the boundaries of knowledge and accomplishment, now we recoil from them in quailing horror and celebrate things like "diversity" in name only.
Hopefully (although not realistically), the bad stats are there. They can only be improved by continuing to rack up successes.
In reality, there will be other failures, other casualties, and yet some of humanity stands steadfast in its intrepid nature and forges onward.
If aviation had been left to military endeavors, and the Lindbergs and Earharts, the stats would be a lot worse. Even military aviation has its accidents, from pushing the envelope in high performance aircraft as well as less exotic planes.
We, by our nature, need to explore, to push those boundaries, to accomplish things, to have a dream.
The other side of it is what will happen without a continuous push to go to space in a significant way. Humanity will “end” early. It’s that simple.
We have already been reduced by the last half-century of 'social scientists' from a nation which prided itself on its achievements to apologetics. Another half century of that, and we'll be reduced to squabbling over limited resources--limited because we will not have stepped beyond where we are and accomplished anything near the advances we are capable of.
That will lead to warfare, a decay of civility, and an eventual return to chipping flint to hunt dinner. One significant impact, a serious pandemic, and two generations out all we see now could fade into myth.
As far as resources go, the low-hanging fruit has been picked. This is our chance as a species to step beyond the confines of a single planet and tap the resources beyond our atmosphere...IF we rise to that challenge.
We should have 'been there' by now. From Sputnik to the Moon and back was less than 13 years. What have we done lately?
IMHO, it is a question of what we want for our posterity, whether they continue to develop and grow, or whether we doom them to hunter/gatherer status in the ruins.