Getting cargo to earth would be cheap if we actually built a space elevator. I don't have the report available, but if you search NASA there is a pdf outlining how to build one with relatively few new technological advancements needing to be overcome, one is carbon nano fiber which is moving along nicely.<br /><br />As far as the economy collapsing, perhaps that is for the best, let the earth heal a bit from all the stripmining, let her heal a bit, perhaps re-educatate some of the work force that will be pushed out of the market into something that is earthbound in production, like agriculture, or even educatate them in the space version of there job and send them out.