Jupiter (DIRECT v3.0) 246 Lunar Cargo

DIRECT v3.0 Jupiter-246

Mission Profile

The Jupiter-246 Lunar Cargo was the heavy-lift uncrewed variant proposed under the DIRECT v3.0 concept, designed as a lower-cost alternative to NASA's Ares V rocket for delivering large payloads to the lunar surface. Standing 94 m tall with a 10 m diameter core and a three-stage configuration leveraging Space Shuttle Main Engines and solid rocket boosters, it was projected to deliver substantial cargo to translunar injection. The concept was part of the DIRECT grassroots engineering initiative that sought to preserve Shuttle-era infrastructure and workforce while providing a credible, affordable path to lunar exploration.