[NetMageSCW]

They could have made orbit at any time on any flights that reached space. they have deliberately not done so because that is the safest thing to do when developing.

[anonymars]

I don't see how that gives them credit. Yes of course they could have burned the engines for a little longer and reached orbit

Were they confident that they could relight the engines and get it back out of orbit? This very test seemed to answer "no"