This short article on emerging deals between Virgin Galatic and Robert Bigelow's space hotel venture show that the Space Economy continues to quietly roll along. Even more interesting is the recent deal between Virgin Galactic and NASA to share development on various space gear like heat shields, space suits, and rocket motors. Taxpayers may eventually be the biggest winners as private industry gets into the space business and starts making money. It will become much more cost effective for NASA to buy what it needs from private firms than to build everything in house, as it does right now.
In terms of economic development, California and New Mexico are in the lead, with Virginia close behind. All three states have active spaceport development programs, and formerly obscure chunks of real estate are turning into boom towns.