Only a few decades passed in between the Wright brothers' flight, and a functioning civil airline system. In the intervening time, farmers across the Midwest, and their families were happily paying barnstormers to fly acrobatics, and take them up for an all too brief flight. A Space Odessy were reasonable. We just have not followed though on the possibility. Ordinary people quickly embrace new technology when it is affordable, and mikes their lives easier, or more entertaining.
Wealth is out there in the vast territory of our star system.
We should settle it, and enjoy its benefits.