>Getting to space[1] is easy. It's not, like, something you could do in your car, but it's not a huge challenge. You could get a person to space with a small sounding rocket the size of a telephone pole. The X-15 aircraft reached space[2] just by going fast and then steering up.[3]

Loved that line. Puts the Branson/Bezos thing into perspective.

These days there are even amateur rocket clubs that have managed (unmanned) suborbital space launches [1].

[1] http://www.uscrpl.com/traveler-iv

It's not impossible, sure. It's just usually not worth it.

The idea is that this gets you above the densest atmosphere and that could save you fuel. I used to think this, but if you run the numbers it doesn't work out.