News: Build a DIY Spacecraft is a Daunting Task

To Build a DIY Spacecraft is a Daunting Task and, Not Surprisingly, Getting It Up Where It Belongs, in Space, Is No Less of a Problem
Wired, 19 December 2011
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/12/to-build-a-diy-spacecraft-is-a-daunting-task/

A ballistic missile is suddenly a simpler, much more affordable, single-stage solution to flying out of Earth’s atmosphere. The performance can be increased far beyond that of a winged space plane. And that’s it.