COMPARING MISSION MANIFEST

This proposal ultimately boils down to one fact: That for the same cash investment, more real-world return can be generated by spending it differently.

This can only be portrayed in terms of missions accomplished for the same money. Below are both the current Ares Mission Manifest and the equivalent DIRECT Mission Manifest:

ARES:

(Click on the image to view a medium-resolution image, or click this link for the high-resolution version)

DIRECT:

(Click on the image to view a medium-resolution image, or click this link for the high-resolution version)

THE DIFFERENCE IS NOT HARD TO SPOT

DIRECT closes the "gap" after Shuttle by more than two years and offers 10 additional lunar missions before 2020. Not to mention that the cargo lift capacity of the Crew launch versions of Jupiter-120 realistically enables servicing missions to Hubble once again.

These manifests both assume NASA funding levels remain constant and do not rise in the future. This shows preceisely what DIRECT can achieve with the same funds as Ares, and brings together all the individual advantages concerning halving the development costs, lower yearly operations, flight rates and quicker development schedule.

Please note that the DIRECT manifest above is a Work In Progress, and is being updated continuously. Please check for the latest version.