For 1., there's really no way to know is there? The best analogy I can think of is all the precious metals from the New World and how their discovery and subsequent introduction to the Old World in the 16th century and on effected the economies there.
For 2., I think there's a good case to be made for a lot of that metal staying up in space as opposed to dropped and then launched back up eventually. In the long long term, isn't it reasonable to assume that Earth may end up losing mass due to space launches? Here's my corollary to your question for whoever comes along to answer: Is it possible that lessening mass could speed us up?
For 2., I think there's a good case to be made for a lot of that metal staying up in space as opposed to dropped and then launched back up eventually. In the long long term, isn't it reasonable to assume that Earth may end up losing mass due to space launches? Here's my corollary to your question for whoever comes along to answer: Is it possible that lessening mass could speed us up?