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Look better!

Direct is only a slightly resized Ares-5, since...

if you do compare, side by side, the Space Shuttle, the Direct concept and the 130 tons payload version of the Ares-5, you can discover that, except the two SRBs, Direct has nearly NOTHING in common with the Space Shuttle (so, it not so much a Shuttle-derived rocket) since it has no Orbiter, it has no SSME, it hasn't the Shuttle's attitude control system, it hasn't the same fueling system, while, Direct, needs several new non-Shuttle things, like 2-4 RS-68 (same engines of the Ares-5) an engines basket (like the Ares-5) a new attitude control system (like the Ares-5) a reinforced, redesigned and enlarged core-stage tank (like the Ares-5) its own avionics and instruments (like the Ares-5) a modified launch pad (like the Ares-5) the interstage (like the Ares-5) a second stage (like the Ares-5) the new J-2X engine for the second stage (like the Ares-5) many payload fairings (more than Ares-5) a different flight profile (pretty similar to an Ares-5) more propellants, for its two stages (like the Ares-5) and, in general, Direct looks much more like an Ares-5 (rather than a Shuttle) has a shape and a stack configuration similar to the Ares-5, it fly like an Ares-5, the stages separation is similar to those of the Ares-5 (rather than a Shuttle) will be assembled like an Ares-5, should have the same kind, time and R&D costs (around $20 billion) of the Ares-5, the Direct hardware should cost only a few million$ less the hardware of an Ares-5, it is even painted like an Ares-5

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