> Saying the 'directlauncher' saves money compared to the Ares I,<br /> /> though maybe true, isn't saying much. And it doesn't contradict<br /> /> the wastefullness of using HLV for small manned LEO payloads.<br /><br />Here are the real-world Operational (recurring) costs:<br /><br />Fixed Costs - per year:<br /><br />Shuttle: $2,500m<br />Atlas-V (manned version): $1,000m<br />Delta-IV (manned version): $1,000m<br />Ares-I: $850m<br />Ares-V: $2200m<br />DIRECT: $900m<br /><br /><br />Variable costs - per flight:<br /><br />Shuttle: $250m<br />Atlas-V CLV (man-rated HLV config): $340m<br />Delta-IV CLV (man-rated Heavy config): $350m<br />Ares-I: $120m<br />Ares-V: $250m<br />DIRECT: $130m*<br /><br />* NOTE: Add $90m for the optional EDS, if flown.<br /><br /><br />So:<br />6 Shuttle flights per year costs (6x250 + 2500) = $4,000m<br /><br />6 EELV Crew flights cost (6x340 + 1000) = $3,040m<br /><br />6 Ares-I Crew flights cost (6x120 + 850) = $1,570m<br />2 Ares-V Lunar Cargo flights cost (2x250 + 2200) = $2,700m<br /><br />6 DIRECT Crew flights cost (6x130 + 900) = $1,680m<br />2 Ares-V Lunar Cargo flights cost (2x220 + 900**) = $1,340m<br /><br /><br />** NOTE: The fixed costs for the EDS are all that is required because the CLV has paid all fixed costs for the Core vehicle already.<br /><br /><br /><br />Thus, assuming the planned manifest of 4 ISS and 2 Lunar missions per year, the total operational costs for the ISS and Lunar programs will be:<br /><br />Shuttle: N/A<br />EELV + Ares-V: $5,740m<br />Ares-I + Ares-V: $4,270m<br />DIRECT: $3,020m<br /><br /><br /><br /> /> If the desire is to eliminate the Ares I, there are better and<br /> /> cheaper ways to do it than using a Heavy Lift Vehicle for all<br /> /> manned missions. EELV makes more sense as an Ares I replacement<br /> /> than using the direct launch system.<br /><br />The EELV solutions are certainly not cheaper than DIRECT, because they still require a second, large cargo launcher to gain access to the moon, Mars and beyond.<br /><br />Also th