^{Everyone also forgets about our favorite RPG programmer, Richard Garriott.}

So probes that go directly to the outer solar system never went to space either? :P

For sure. More people have been to the moon than the bottom of the ocean. That is one hell of a brag for anyone.

Yeah, I don’t get the orbit requirement as the definition of space. While perhaps Branson didn’t reach high enough to be considered space, completing an orbit isn’t necessary to “reach space” (even though it’s a bigger accomplishment than sub-orbital flight).

By Erik’s definition, the Voyager probes have never been to space. Erik’s definition is awful.

“The Wright Brothers didn’t fly.”

“Pointless space races”

I still hold out hope that LEO, or at least a suborbital flight above the Karman line, will be available to those with reasonably healthy retirement accounts in 30-40 years. For $50k (or the inflation adjusted equivalent), I think I might be willing to do it. 

Musk doesn’t care about the race to reaching, and there basically isnt one since SpaceX’s first crewed spaceflight to orbit is scheduled for this year, while BO and Virgin don’t even have an orbital class rocket yet, let alone one that is rated for crew.

Branson experienced brief “zero gravity” because his “spaceship” was falling towards earth just like you would if you jumped out of a plane.

Let me just say that if I did what he did, I am telling every fucker I know and everyone I meet that I have been to motherfucking space. 

I had no idea that The Titanic was so deep

What he did is literally the same thing as what happens in the vomit commit- a parabolic flight path. It was just at higher altitude than in a 747.  Branson experienced brief “zero gravity” because his “spaceship” was falling towards earth just like you would if you jumped out of a plane.

To be fair, this is extremely low-hanging fruit. 

Instead, I hereby propose a simple, achievable definition of “going to space,” which is that you must orbit the Earth at least once while you’re up there, something that Branson did not do.

This is fine and all but I find myself more impressed with James Cameron’s rich-guy feat than Branson or Bezos going into brief orbit.

*insert Stormy Daniels joke here*

It’s 80K vs 100K, and what the USA recognizes I guess. However, I think orbit for 1 earth rotation should be the standard to go by. $250K for a minute and a half in space, seems like a waste of money