[dorfsmay]

How many amateurs pay a lot of money to be able to say they went to the top of mount Everest, which is probably a lot more risky?

[gist]

Good point but a bit different. People view climbing Everest as an achievement as opposed to going up in a rocket which even though you need to prepare seems less daunting and a different type of risk.

Not that it matters but I wonder which of these buys more social capital?

[bronco21016]

Exactly. As a pilot, I find both of these rides uninspiring. Now if I could strap myself to the top of a Titan II in a Gemini capsule and do some piloting… now that would be an experience.