A free trip to space: do you take it?

[Rain Man]

As part of an Amazon Prime promotion, you win a sweepstakes to go on an 11-minute ride up into suborbital space. You also get designer space togs specific to your group.

The other five astronauts on your ride will be:

Kanye West
Kim Kardashian
rob gronkowski
Jake Paul
Justin Bieber

You will spend two intensive weeks with this crew to "train" for your "mission". This will include a lot of posing with the group for selfies and standing in the background while they're being interviewed.

Do you accept the prize? If you turn down the prize, you'll get two years of free Amazon Prime as an alternative.

[loochy]

Yes.


1, because space


2, because even thought I can't stand any of those celebrities, I might make some connections that could pay off big in the future

[LagunaSWana]

I'm in, but if Stephen A subs for anyone, I'm out.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by DJay23

I wouldn't go to space just to go to space. Is there a reason other than to brag to people that I did? Maybe you could say the profundity of looking back at the blue marble and contemplating the unity of all mankind to the earth.

But I'll pass. Seems too risky a thing to do for the reasons above.

I guess it's a cool little brag to friends, but I think the entire thing would be pretty amazing... getting immersed in the process and prep (even if it's just a quick trip), being launched into ****ing space, the trip back down... and then of course seeing the Earth from space with your own eyes.

I dunno, I did a glacier hike last year as part of an Alaskan cruise and going in thought it might not be amazing, but it had seriously great reviews (and you'd think there would be a few dumbasses bitching about it being cold or something, or "yeah it's cool but not worth the price", but there was none of that)... and it was worth every penny.

I could see this being similar... might think, so you go up, look, go down... but might be surprised at the awesomeness.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

I guess it's a cool little brag to friends, but I think the entire thing would be pretty amazing... getting immersed in the process and prep (even if it's just a quick trip), being launched into ****ing space, the trip back down... and then of course seeing the Earth from space with your own eyes.

I dunno, I did a glacier hike last year as part of an Alaskan cruise and going in thought it might not be amazing, but it had seriously great reviews (and you'd think there would be a few dumbasses bitching about it being cold or something, or "yeah it's cool but not worth the price", but there was none of that)... and it was worth every penny.

I could see this being similar... might think, so you go up, look, go down... but might be surprised at the awesomeness.

It's a short-lived flight, but astronauts often talk of the Overview Effect, described as a profound sense of awe, wonder, and a new understanding of the interconnectedness of life on Earth. At least a few of the New Shepard "crew" have mentioned something similar, Bill Shatner being one of the more outspoken about it.

It'd be cool to gain that kind of perspective.

Plus, it would be a hell of a ride.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

I dunno, I did a glacier hike last year as part of an Alaskan cruise and going in thought it might not be amazing, but it had seriously great reviews (and you'd think there would be a few dumbasses bitching about it being cold or something, or "yeah it's cool but not worth the price", but there was none of that)... and it was worth every penny.

And to this point, we didn't do a hike, but we did a day cruise out to a couple of glaciers. This is my favorite picture from the day - not necessarily because of my fantastic photography skills, but because you have to look really close to see the 3-story ship in the middle. I love how surprising the scale is.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

I guess it's a cool little brag to friends, but I think the entire thing would be pretty amazing... getting immersed in the process and prep (even if it's just a quick trip), being launched into ****ing space, the trip back down... and then of course seeing the Earth from space with your own eyes.

I dunno, I did a glacier hike last year as part of an Alaskan cruise and going in thought it might not be amazing, but it had seriously great reviews (and you'd think there would be a few dumbasses bitching about it being cold or something, or "yeah it's cool but not worth the price", but there was none of that)... and it was worth every penny.

I could see this being similar... might think, so you go up, look, go down... but might be surprised at the awesomeness.

That describes my trip to Antarctica pretty well, too. Seeing it in person had a real wow factor that I didn't expect. It's not hyperbole when I say I see the world a little bit differently now.

But of course I didn't do it for that reason. I did it to inspire future generations of little boys to go into careers related to Antarctica.

[ChiliConCarnage]

Originally Posted by DaFace

And to this point, we didn't do a hike, but we did a day cruise out to a couple of glaciers. This is my favorite picture from the day - not necessarily because of my fantastic photography skills, but because you have to look really close to see the 3-story ship in the middle. I love how surprising the scale is.

Whoa, that's wild

[jjchieffan]

I would have to say yes, despite the company. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. I dealt with my libtard sister in law( who was absolutely unbearable the entire trip) for a 2 week trip to Alaska. I can put up with that group for this experience.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

I guess it's a cool little brag to friends, but I think the entire thing would be pretty amazing... getting immersed in the process and prep (even if it's just a quick trip), being launched into ****ing space, the trip back down... and then of course seeing the Earth from space with your own eyes.

I dunno, I did a glacier hike last year as part of an Alaskan cruise and going in thought it might not be amazing, but it had seriously great reviews (and you'd think there would be a few dumbasses bitching about it being cold or something, or "yeah it's cool but not worth the price", but there was none of that)... and it was worth every penny.

I could see this being similar... might think, so you go up, look, go down... but might be surprised at the awesomeness.

I did an Alaska cruise back in 2016 and absolutely loved it. The scenery was breathtaking and being on ship again after disembarking from the Concord for the last time nearly 30 years prior brought me a joy I couldn't hardly believe. We even had some mildly rough seas the first day - the ship was rolling and pitching, shit was sliding around, people were pissing and moaning and getting sick and I was in heaven.

[Katipan]

Originally Posted by DJay23

I wouldn't go to space just to go to space. Is there a reason other than to brag to people that I did? Maybe you could say the profundity of looking back at the blue marble and contemplating the unity of all mankind to the earth.

But I'll pass. Seems too risky a thing to do for the reasons above.

You can have the same epiphany with trippy music and Alan Watts. Even more fun with naked 20 year olds on molly but that might be a bit much for CP.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Frazod

I did an Alaska cruise back in 2016 and absolutely loved it. The scenery was breathtaking and being on ship again after disembarking from the Concord for the last time nearly 30 years prior brought me a joy I couldn't hardly believe. We even had some mildly rough seas the first day - the ship was rolling and pitching, shit was sliding around, people were pissing and moaning and getting sick and I was in heaven.

I want to go back and do some inland stuff, like the train ride from Anchorage to Fairbanks.

The cruise I went on traveled like 2000 miles round trip up the coast and back from Seattle, yet still ended up like ~450-500 miles east of Anchorage (furthest west was Glacier Bay), barely scratching the surface of Alaska.

[Otter]

I still promote the assertion that we should provide Mr. Romanowski an invitation and have very inconvenient accident zero gravity, extreme radiation or extreme temperatures.


Quiet certain we can spray paint the invitation it gold with some Armor All and convince him he's going to the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory.

[Iowanian]

I’d do it I think. It would be mostly worth it just so my kids and grandkids would have a story to tell someday. It would also be worth it for the thrill of that few minutes of life/death adrenaline.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

I want to go back and do some inland stuff, like the train ride from Anchorage to Fairbanks.

The cruise I went on traveled like 2000 miles round trip up the coast and back from Seattle, yet still ended up like ~450-500 miles east of Anchorage (furthest west was Glacier Bay), barely scratching the surface of Alaska.

You can do the train on the regular ol' Alaska Railroad, but we decided to do it with a little extra luxury. Highly recommend.

https://www.alaskatravel.com/trains/wilderness-express/

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by DaFace

You can do the train on the regular ol' Alaska Railroad, but we decided to do it with a little extra luxury. Highly recommend.

https://www.alaskatravel.com/trains/wilderness-express/

Thanks! I was expecting far worse in terms of price, TBH... Vermont/New Hampshire have those domed trains and IIRC, costs would run about the same for less than half the time spent on the train (of course, I also assume there's far greater demand in New England than Alaska).