I don't know about that. I think I'd take the flight, then launch a kickstarter off the back of the publicity :-)

I don't understand how you could choose cash over space.

What is the space trip going to be? Sitting in a chair, looking out a porthole, seeing the sky darken to stars, maybe being allowed to get up and experience microgravity the same as various amusement park rides or the vomit commit wave flying plane, then sitting in your seat for the ride back down. Pretty worthless, honestly. About the same as a day at the amusement park with a higher chance of death. Money instead might let you start a business and change the world, or code your own thing instead of coding what a boss tells you for several years.

It's a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity though! (At least if you're not super-rich)

Same here. I don't really have enough money to be comfortable, and $200k would improve the quality of my life and allow me to do fun and interesting things for quite some time.