Lmao it would be more economical to colonize the ocean floor than space. Extracting resources from space isn't happening any time soon, no amount of musks copium will fix that.

The "serious nature" of what's happening in space is an accelerating geopolitical posturing. Nothing any country is doing right now are the things they'd do if they seriously intended to settle space.

If the intent of course was to show off military might, ruin the the space treaty for colonialization and imperialism, and attempt brinksmamship, well they are coincidentally working down the checklist!