Even if the hit rate is low, that doesn't necessarily deter thrill-seekers. 4,800 people have successfully climbed Mt. Everest (8,300 times[0]) at the cost of tens of thousands of dollars ($45k-70k[1], $11k for the royalty alone[2]), and the very real risk of death (375 deaths). The success rate is about half,[3] up from under 30% before 2006.[4]

[0] http://www.alanarnette.com/blog/2017/12/17/everest-by-the-nu...

[1] https://www.alpineascents.com/climbs/mount-everest/price-sch...

[2] Down from $25k before 2014 https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/02/140219-moun...

[3] https://www.quora.com/How-many-people-attempt-to-climb-Mt-Ev...

[4] https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/everest-by-the-numbers/in...

It's too bad the average scientist, especially astronomers, astrophysicists won't be able to afford to ride the ride?

(I'm not suspose to bring up the wealth divide in America, but it's been just so---what's the word--obvious. I'm at the point where I'm thinking about the future. A future where companies will just cater to the small percentage of the population with the biggest wad? Yea--I'm envious. )