I think we've been sliding away from one of the core premises in the OP.
That is, the mundanes aren't interested in space.
And why should they be? It's not like there's life or anything out there. There's metal and ice and rock, maybe that's useful to somebody but it's not like there isn't metal and ice and rock on Earth just as much.
Besides, look at the people who go into space. They're all freaks and geeks and nerds, anarchists and communists and terrorists, oh my. Not the sort of folk decent people mingle with, oh no. Buying their trinkets is one thing, maybe going on holiday to Port Luna or Phobos, get your picture taken with the natives, but living up there? Surely you jest!
You see where I'm going? The 'danelaw isn't interested in space; not enough to fund mines on Mercury or habitats at the Lagrange points or anything like that. They're focused on Earth. They'll have satellites in orbit, embassies or even a small moonbase, some representation on the Island, a military base at L4 but beyond that they don't see the rest of the Solar System as their concern.---
Mr. Fnord
http://fnord.sandwich.net/
http://www.jihad.net/
Mr. Fnord interdimensional man of mystery
FenWiki - Your One-Stop Shop for Fenspace Information
"I. Drink. Your. NERDRAGE!"
That is, the mundanes aren't interested in space.
And why should they be? It's not like there's life or anything out there. There's metal and ice and rock, maybe that's useful to somebody but it's not like there isn't metal and ice and rock on Earth just as much.
Besides, look at the people who go into space. They're all freaks and geeks and nerds, anarchists and communists and terrorists, oh my. Not the sort of folk decent people mingle with, oh no. Buying their trinkets is one thing, maybe going on holiday to Port Luna or Phobos, get your picture taken with the natives, but living up there? Surely you jest!
You see where I'm going? The 'danelaw isn't interested in space; not enough to fund mines on Mercury or habitats at the Lagrange points or anything like that. They're focused on Earth. They'll have satellites in orbit, embassies or even a small moonbase, some representation on the Island, a military base at L4 but beyond that they don't see the rest of the Solar System as their concern.---
Mr. Fnord
http://fnord.sandwich.net/
http://www.jihad.net/
Mr. Fnord interdimensional man of mystery
FenWiki - Your One-Stop Shop for Fenspace Information
"I. Drink. Your. NERDRAGE!"