NO Problemo here giving those aviators their space wings, although they would have PAID to ride those birds without the participation hardware!! A couple of times, the X-15 became a for-real manned US spacecraft by nearly ALL definitions....with a programme best 354,200' reach.... Not sure why sub-orbital quibbling is a 'thing' except that you have to snap the chalk-line SOMEWHERE.
Zero Gravity Corp (featured in post#80). provides total 6 to 7 minutes of 'product' currently priced $7500 I think. Not a high flyer, it operates in flight restriction boxes to avoid risk of interacting with other aluminum cans. With a strong 'negative Z vector'. Spaceperspective will soon offer Neptune One balloon rides up to 30 km. A six-hour, $125,000 ride with no zero G. That, one could attain by pressing the 'balloon detach' do not press this button button. Not a good idea as those G forces would see you later. Not to miss SpaceX, they may have other buyers besides US billionaire buys SpaceX flight to orbit with 3 others - ABC News For a few floaty orbital days in Dragon. == Is this an incomplete list of such experiences?
They do not yet have permission to light the candle. Envtl impact statement or FAA or both. See the long and sometimes informative discussion at ArsTechnica (where chain mail construction is also discussed ) When it does go, first stage will decelerate and plop nicely off TX coast. Second stage will go on around eastwardly and decelerate and plop nicely off HI coast. In any case it will be the largest number of rocket engines that Musk has ever not got back in one day.
This Starship is essentially the design that Maezawa et al intend for lunar flyby (in 2023). Several upgoings and downgoings will need success before that event. Bringing Starship back into earth atmosphere from high velocity without excessive roasting will be important on the to-do list.
A very fine image of assembling the big fire stick: Seriously this could be wall art in some decors. Spacex might offer a high-def version if asked nicely.
The stack is being rebuilt, ahead of FAA launch license: https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-rollout-launch-pad-photos
