If we account for externalities witha reasonable "weight" most economic activity must be operating close to or at an absolute loss
Thus we are wasting an unfathomable amount of natural resources by delaying our transition to a space-faring civilization. And world GDP is currently the best measure we have of human technological progress.
The main reason for delays on this front seems to be a lack of long-term thinking, as well as a general disinterest in advancing space technology.
For example, if two housewives join the workforce by cleaning each other’s now unattended houses, GDP shows a large increase even though the situation is (arugably) a net loss for everyone involved.