Niels papermodels - Direct launch system

Jupiter-120 and Jupiter-232
by Lancer

Scale 1:144 Published: January 23, 2009

Right click to download:

Modelssheet (6.8 MB)
Instruction (4.3 MB)

Direct Jupiter-120 and Jupiter-232 paper model

Crew and Cargo versions of the Jupiter-rocket

History

The DIRECT launch-system was a proposal for an alternative to the Ares I and the Ares V launcher.

Instead of using two launchers the idea was to replace them with a single launch vehicle named "Jupiter". With two different configurations it would have been able to perform both crew and cargo missions.

Both variants was planned to use a pair of Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters unchanged from their configuration as used on the Shuttle. Mounted between those is the Jupiter Core Stage, based very closely on the original Space Shuttle External Tank, modified to mount payloads on top and a set of engines underneath.

When NASA was authorized in 2010 to mandating work on the Space Launch System Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle, the DIRECT Team declared their effort a success and disbanded.

About the model
"Lancer" was the Director of Communications for the DIRECT Team. He created 1/144 the paper models to be used to demonstrate the launch-system, when DIRECT's engineering team met with NASA during the presidential transition in 2009.

Later the models was put on display in the library at NASA-HQ in D.C. and have been since January of 2009.

Thanks to "Lancer" to let me host his two historic important models of the DIRECT launch system.

More information:

www.directlauncher.org/

wikipedia.org/wiki/DIRECT