I think the privatisation of space is somewhat inevitable but no one has put as much money into space as has gone into NASA. We haven't exactly used space to its full potential with the amount of money that has gone into it, umm i wonder why #-o

Oh yeah, NASA's the one developing all the propulsion technologies. Like the VASIMR system is probably the best hope we have for efficient travel to Mars or other planets and it is also the fastest by far. The deceleration is a bit of a problem as half of the trip has to be deceleration but that could be cut down by sling shoting around the planet and decelerating to get into an orbit. This would make the trip even shorter, or heck strap a chemical rocket on to help slow it down quicker.

I don't hold much promise for privatisation of space until companies start putting more long term applications into their plans.

Also without a policing in space it could well develop into a privateering situation between rival companies. If a ship conveniently gets damaged and drifts off course no ones likely going to find out if there was foul play involved.