The business of humanity is business
Most of our great accomplishments have been for religion or the economy. Forgetting about religious monuments like the great temples and the Pyramids, we have built great dams and canals and other wonders to promote economic growth. The Dutch did a great environmental project, maybe the best ever, but we have never been able to prevent changes like half of Africa turning into a desert.
It took me a lifetime to realize that politicians will never allow us to become space-faring but business will. We can see it starting to happen. I won't see it to fruition but my children will. When space becomes profitable the politicians will throw in with business to get it done.
Maybe, when it becomes profitable we might even terraform the Sahara.