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Comment by wiskinator | Hacker News Reader

It's weird that I'm just finding out that there's a company that does this when their business goes sideways.

Kinda also wondering if I can scrape 250,000$ together...

Well it's a bargain, I guess, compared to the current ticket prices for space tourism-- which is still in the 7-figures range.

It's got to be an extreme rarified market where normal rules just don't apply.

How many potential customers are there that have the kind of disposable income to pay for a one-time "experience" and ALSO a tolerance for risk that is somewhere between race-car driver and wingsuit-enthusiast.

I think this bit of marketing helps too.. “95% of the Earth’s ocean is unexplored. You can change that.”

Their money is going to philanthropic activity exploring the oceans.

What is philanthropic about spending "a million dollars on gas" per trip to send some billionaires on a glorified elevator ride?

I suppose very little in some people's eyes maybe more in others. I think it depends on how much unexplored ocean this team dedicates their budget towards exploring.

You are probably not their target demographic. People who spend $250,000 on vacations probably hear about it regularly.

There's at least one company that does rides in fighters. Seems a little safer.

https://www.flyfighterjet.com/

Well that's awesome.

"You’ll get a thrilling approx. 45-50 minutes jet ride including:

- A walk around the MiG-29 jet including detailed explanations

- Cruising at double Supersonic Speed (Mach 2)

- Manoeuvres such as rolls, steep diving and climbing and more, depending on what your worked out plan together with the pilot

- A fantastic view onto the earth from above

- You will see the curvature of the earth

- Possibility to control the jet"

"45-50 minutes MiG-29 flight costs EUR 17,500"

That's almost affordable. If my wife ever leaves me, I'm doing this.

Since you can see the curvature of the earth you can also prove it’s round. Big bonus.

Everyone knows they have specially shaped cockpit glass that warps your FOV to give the appearance of a round earth.

Well, you only see that it's bent - you don't go all the way around. Might as well be an upside down wok pan.

Nope. It's the shell of the turtle.

It's 4 elephants on a turtle swimming through space.

Would that be the half-flat theory? ;)

https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/flat

https://incredible-adventures.com/ has been offering wild adventures similar to this for a long time.

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