Only 565 people have ever been to space. Virgin Galactic plans to send 3000 more

kevinrooke.com

5 points123six3 comments

"Been to space" and "been in orbit" are very, very different things. To my knowledge, Virgin only has plans for the first.

Correct, and being in orbit is not a requirement to be considered an astronaut. The threshold for being "in space" is 80km of altitude, a height that all Virgin Galactic customer flights will pass.

It is only considered astronautics among those who haven't orbited.

On Virgin you get a glimpse of curved horizon, and stars in daytime, at the expense of about the filthiest kind of rocket ever used. Really, the fuel is basically burning tires.

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