It’s interesting that the headline is about the alternatives to the HLV.

Here

Sounds like Aries V is unofficially dead, and it’s a shootout between the shuttle “C” and the Direct Launcher system.

HLV (Shuttle “C”)
80 tons to LEO – 54 tons to Moon.

Jupiter-246
112 tons to LEO - 87 tons to Moon.

I hope we spend a little more money, (If at all) and get a huge increase in capability, with room to grow.
Due to political inertia, we’ll have to live with the choice we make for the next 30 years.

I say, kill the Aries V, shred the HLV (Shuttle “C”), build the four engine Jupiter-246, (forget about the 3 engine crew launcher) kill the Orion, and accelerate the SpaceX Dragon, with the Falcon 9 and Delta IV as launchers.