DIRECT v3

Triton

Donald McKelvy
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Achieving the Vision for Space Exploration on Time and Within Budget
by Stephen L Metschan, Cyril A Longton, Ross B Tierney, António H F Maia, and Philip J Metschan

https://web.archive.org/web/20080308001919/http://www.teamvisioninc.com/downloads/AIAA-2007-6231-LowRes.pdf
 
http://www.directlauncher.org
 

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http://www.directlauncher.org/manifest.htm
 

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http://www.directlauncher.org/Pics
 

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This thing is going to look pretty silly once BFR and New Armstrong are flying.
 
DIRECT is a 10 year-old concept proposed as a follow-on to the Shuttle and alternative to Ares.

The project name "DIRECT" referred to a philosophy of maximizing the re-use of hardware and facilities already in place for the Space Shuttle program (STS), hence a "direct" transition. The DIRECT Team asserted that using this approach to develop and operate a family of high-commonality rockets would reduce costs and the gap between retirement of the Space Shuttle and the first launch of Orion, shorten schedules, and simplify technical requirements for future US human space efforts.

Three major versions of the DIRECT proposal were released with the last, Version 3.0, unveiled in May 2009.

NASA opted for SLS instead.
 
So, when NASA no longer has SSME's to toss into the Atlantic. What then? buy (with my money) and toss BE-4's into the drink?

NASA's done the heavy lifting of raw research and passing the findings on to those who can use it. That agencies job should be research and development, not space flight. The game has changed. Matured. Little courage is displayed by those wishing to hang onto the government tit till retirement. Those answerable to Congressional over-seers (Halls filled with lawyers and other know-things) are risk averse. That's why we're still in the ammunition mode of spaceflight when it comes to government efforts.

Time to hitch rides with outfits that appreciate and are burdened with the profit-motive way of doing business. Reasonable risks are taken by those who see profit as the result of hard work. And that ain't the NASA.

David
 
merriman said:
So, when NASA no longer has SSME's to toss into the Atlantic. What then? buy (with my money) and toss BE-4's into the drink?

No...

... the problem is BE-4 is MethaneLox engine
NASA would have to adapt the launch complex to handle liquid Methane instead of liquid Hydrogen
next to that SLS Core has to undergo major redesign to handle MethaneLox.

i think that NASA rather would start a R&D on new Hydrolox engine that replace SSME, instead switch on BE-4...

Personal i think it was grave mistake that NASA ignored DIRECT v3 Architecture and went for Ares V and SLS instead.
DIRECT gave NASA a opportunity to transit from Shuttle to Direct unmanned Rocket and manned Flights in 2010s
First as Supply craft for ISS, later option to goes to the Moon or Mars with Bigger Direct rockets in 2020s
 
merriman said:
So, when NASA no longer has SSME's to toss into the Atlantic. What then? buy (with my money) and toss BE-4's into the drink?

The plan seems to be a simplified SSME called RS-25E. But I wouldn't hold my breath. By the time SLS uses up the left over SSMEs, there will be other launcher options.
 
I followed the DIRECT fellows at NASAspaceflight.com. For some reason I never quite understood, they declared victory, and folded over, the day SLS was born. :eek:
 
Triton said:
Byeman said:
Why does this warrant a new thread?

Show me a link to an existing thread documenting DIRECT?

This is only one in this forum, also for Jupiter version of DIRECT
Since its unbuild projects, it got right to be here.
 

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