Satallite refueling and menstruation

If one wishes to use the Puritans as a model for future space
colonies and the development of society I would be very optimistic.
As inspirers of the Protestant work ethic their influence lasted well
into the twentieth century.

They only stopped being a political force in New England with the
developement of the Irish Political machines. The Irish being good
catholics had a large birthrate. My grandparents had Nine Children.
As New Englanders moved west and Irish Immigrants and other
immigrants came in due to a high birthrate and low resource
availability in Ireland and Europe things went the way they did.

Modern 'enlightened' society doesn't offer that threat.

I do not see earth having much influence over the colonies developing
in space. Distance is a great factor but also so is man's
development. In Canada, they have elected their version of Reagan. We
shall see how far that goes. Australia is going to ban Gay Marriage.
For failing to reproduce itself Liberalism is going to seed and will
certainly soon begin to fade just as the Industrial revolution began
to fade against the tide of Socialism one hundred years ago.
Certainly there are setbacks to progress, in Holland Child Molesters
are forming their own Political party. But over all, western society
is beginning to get its act together. Hopefully it will lead us into
space.

When people move into space they will remake society to their own
desires and the Earth and any Earth governing body won't be in any
position to interfere.