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Comment by detritus | Hacker News Reader

'Space'.

The claimed maximum altitude on previous flights was 87.2 km.

There are arguments for and against calling that "space", especially since the vehicle isn't designed for orbit. Either way it's an achievement, and I don't see value in belittling it. Why not express excitement for one day going higher?

Because it is a definition. Just like a kilogram or a meter.

define it.

Only someone who does not understand what the Karman Line is and is not would claim that there is "a definition for space" like kg or m.

If you are now going to resort to "the FAI's definition", by the FAI's standards Yuri Gagarin did not fly the first orbital flight because he ejected from Soyuz I near the end, something the USSR kept secret so it could claim the achievement.

Because I feel like it's an entirely pointless waste of resource? I don't know if you've noticed, but the world's on fire right now.

Moreso though, if you're not achieving orbit, you're not really visiting space proper, imho.

Can you explain why orbit is such an important point to you? If I got launched to 1000 miles out and just “fell” back to earth without achieving orbit I’d definitely consider it a trip into space.

Smells like sour grapes. Turn off the news it’s not good for you

It's not important to me at all. It's a pointless ambition. I'm just sorry that it's seemingly important to other people. shrug

The final frontier?

Space is the final frontier, not the last frontier, because we must make giant steps in biology to become a spacefaring species.

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