Skip to content
Chad Davis Photography
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
  • Home
  • Minneapolis Uprising
  • Travel
    • Belize
    • Bruges, Belgium
    • Costa Rica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Guatemala
    • Las Vegas
    • London
    • Tampa, Florida
    • Tokyo
  • Series
    • Minneapolis Uprising
    • Minneapolis and COVID-19
    • NASA Michoud Assembly Facility
    • Outside the 2024 Republican National Convention
    • Tesla Takedown: Minneapolis
    • No Kings – Hands Off – 50501 Protests Minnesota
  • Contact
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
Chad Davis Photography
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
Chad Davis Photography
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
  • Home
  • Minneapolis Uprising
  • Travel
    • Belize
    • Bruges, Belgium
    • Costa Rica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Guatemala
    • Las Vegas
    • London
    • Tampa, Florida
    • Tokyo
  • Series
    • Minneapolis Uprising
    • Minneapolis and COVID-19
    • NASA Michoud Assembly Facility
    • Outside the 2024 Republican National Convention
    • Tesla Takedown: Minneapolis
    • No Kings – Hands Off – 50501 Protests Minnesota
  • Contact
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
Chad Davis Photography
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
Inside the now demolished Hopkins Cold Storage facility in Hopkins, Minnesota.

Hopkins Cold Storage

Inside the now demolished Hopkins Cold Storage facility in Hopkins, Minnesota.

Abandoned, Cold Storage, Hopkins, Hopkins Cold Storage
Lake Harriet Park in Minneapolis.

Lake Harriet Bandshell, Minneapolis

Lake Harriet Park in Minneapolis.

Lake Harriet, Lake Harriet Bandshell, Minneapolis, Minneapolis at Night, Minnesota
Foggy evening in park near W Bde Maka Ska Blvd in Minneapolis.

West Bde Maka Ska Blvd Fog

Foggy evening in park near W Bde Maka Ska Blvd in Minneapolis.

Bde Maka Ska, Bde Maka Ska Blvd, Calhoun Boulevard, Fog, Grand Rounds, Minneapolis, Minneapolis Park, Minneapolis Park System, Minnesota
The NASA logo illuminated on the side of the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana. Established during World War II and later repurposed for the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs, the vast complex continues to play a central role in U.S. space manufacturing. Today, Michoud supports construction of major components for NASA’s Artemis missions, including the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft.

NASA Michoud Assembly Facility at Night

The NASA logo illuminated on the side of the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana. Established during World War…

Artemis, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System
Friction-stir-weld tool for wet and dry structures on the Space Launch System (SLS) core stage. It will weld barrel panels together to produce whole barrels for the two pressurized tanks, the intertank, the forward skirt and the aft engine section. More Info: https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/

Friction welding at NASA Michoud Assembly Facility

Friction-stir-weld tool for wet and dry structures on the Space Launch System (SLS) core stage. It will weld barrel panels…

Artemis, I-STIR, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System, Welding
Inside the Vertical Weld Center. The friction-stir-weld tool for wet and dry structures on the Space Launch System (SLS) core stage. It will weld barrel panels together to produce whole barrels for the two pressurized tanks, the intertank, the forward skirt and the aft engine section. More Info: https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/

Inside the Vertical Weld Center at NASA Michoud Assembly Facilit

Inside the Vertical Weld Center. The friction-stir-weld tool for wet and dry structures on the Space Launch System (SLS) core…

Artemis, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System, Welding
Inside NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, the Vertical Weld Center is shown — a precision friction-stir welding system used to join the massive aluminum alloy panels that form rocket fuel tanks and core stages for the Space Launch System. The bright blue and yellow structures are part of the tooling system that ensures millimeter-level accuracy during assembly, critical for the Artemis program’s deep space missions.

Vertical Weld Center at NASA Michoud Assembly Facility

Inside NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, the Vertical Weld Center is shown — a precision friction-stir welding system…

Artemis, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System, Welding
Inside the cavernous NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, the green-painted structure of a Space Launch System (SLS) rocket component dominates the factory floor. Surrounded by yellow access platforms and intricate piping, this section is part of the massive tooling infrastructure used to assemble and test rocket core stages. Overhead cranes and precision systems support Boeing’s production of “America’s Rocket,” with each stage destined for integration into NASA’s Artemis program to return humans to the Moon.

Core Stage Manufacturing Area at NASA Michoud Assembly Facility

Inside the cavernous NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, the green-painted structure of a Space Launch System (SLS) rocket…

Artemis, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System
The interior of the Space Launch System (SLS) fuel tank at NASA Michoud Assembly Facility. NASA Core Stage Infographic: https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/multimedia/infographics/corestage101.html Space Launch System: https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html

SLS Fuel Tank Interior at Michoud Assembly Facility

The interior of the Space Launch System (SLS) fuel tank at NASA Michoud Assembly Facility. NASA Core Stage Infographic: https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/multimedia/infographics/corestage101.html…

Artemis, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System
The forward skirt section of NASA’s Space Launch System is shown shortly after its final assembly at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. This uppermost segment houses the rocket’s flight computers, avionics, and camera systems, forming the control center that guides the SLS during launch and ascent. Built for Artemis I (Exploration Mission-1), this structure would later be integrated into the core stage for its 2020 launch from Kennedy Space Center.

SLS Forward Skirt – The Brain of NASA’s Space Launch System

The forward skirt section of NASA’s Space Launch System is shown shortly after its final assembly at the Michoud Assembly…

Artemis, Forward Skirt, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System
Inside NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, an advanced robotic welding system—developed by Genesis Systems Group and Boeing—assembles major components for the Space Launch System (SLS) core stage. Using friction stir welding, the robot precisely joins massive aluminum panels into the rocket’s fuel tanks and structural sections. The process ensures unmatched strength and reliability, critical for the launch vehicle that powers NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond.

Robotic Friction Stir Welding Cell at NASA Michoud

Inside NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, an advanced robotic welding system—developed by Genesis Systems Group and Boeing—assembles major…

Artemis, Louisiana, Manufacturing, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, Robots, SLS, Space, Space Launch System
Precision barrel tooling used in the assembly of the Space Launch System (SLS) core stage stands on the production floor at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. These fixtures hold massive aluminum panels in place during the friction stir welding process, ensuring perfect alignment and uniform curvature for the rocket’s cylindrical sections. Behind the tooling, the metallic structure of a completed barrel segment can be seen, ready for the next stage of integration.

Barrel Assembly Tooling at NASA Michoud Assembly Facility

Precision barrel tooling used in the assembly of the Space Launch System (SLS) core stage stands on the production floor…

Artemis, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System
The inside of a Space Launch System (SLS) barrel used for the liquid hydrogen tank. It’s made of AI 2219, an aerospace aluminum alloy. More Info: https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/

SLS Barrel interior at NASA Michoud Assembly Facility

The inside of a Space Launch System (SLS) barrel used for the liquid hydrogen tank. It’s made of AI 2219,…

Artemis, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System
A long corridor inside NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans showcases decades of spaceflight heritage through a display of mission patches and crew insignias. Each emblem represents a milestone in American aerospace history — from early shuttle missions to modern exploration programs. The polished concrete floors and fluorescent lighting emphasize the industrial precision of the facility, while the colorful insignias serve as a vivid reminder of the human stories behind the technology.

Mission Patch Hallway at NASA Michoud Assembly Facility

A long corridor inside NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans showcases decades of spaceflight heritage through a display of…

Artemis, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System
Inside NASA’s historic Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center, towering steel gantries and massive cranes dominate the cavernous interior. This is one of the largest single-story buildings in the world, designed in the 1960s to stack the Saturn V rockets of the Apollo program and now used for assembling the Space Launch System (SLS) for the Artemis missions. The central high-bay area, seen here from above, includes multiple platforms and access decks allowing engineers to integrate and inspect rocket stages with millimeter precision. The structure’s immense scale—capable of accommodating vehicles over 500 feet tall—remains a defining symbol of America’s spaceflight engineering capability.

NASA Vertical Assembly Center, Michoud

The large Space Launch System print on the wall was placed there to show what is being built in this…

Artemis, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System, Vertical Assembly Center
Looking down into the massive cleaning cell inside the Vertical Assembly Center at NASA Michoud Assembly Facility. The massive washing facility is used to wash the insides of the Space Launch System(SLS) fuel tanks. The SLS rocket will be the world’s largest rocket ever built.

Cleaning Cell at NASA Michoud Assembly Facility

Looking down into the massive cleaning cell inside the Vertical Assembly Center at NASA Michoud Assembly Facility. The massive washing…

Artemis, Cleaning cell, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System, Vertical Assembly Center
The towering interior of NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where major components for the Space Launch System rocket are fabricated and assembled. The multilevel platforms, access walkways, and heavy structural supports surround the massive Vertical Assembly Area—an environment designed for precision alignment of rocket stages that will power Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond.

Inside NASA’s Michoud Vertical Assembly Area

The towering interior of NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where major components for the Space Launch System rocket…

Artemis, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System, Vertical Assembly Center
A bright blue and yellow tooling structure dominates this section of NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Built by Ascent Aerospace’s Global Tooling Systems division, this heavy-duty platform is part of the specialized infrastructure used to assemble components of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The steel frame supports massive cylindrical sections during alignment and welding, forming part of the precision manufacturing ecosystem that enables Artemis missions to take shape from the ground up.

Tooling Platform at NASA Michoud Assembly Facility

A bright blue and yellow tooling structure dominates this section of NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Built by…

Artemis, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System, Welding
A Liquid Oxygen tank being worked on inside Cell A at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility. It’s part of the Space Launch System Core Stage. The tank will hold 195,000 gallons of liquid oxygen cooled to -297 degrees Fahrenheit.

Liquid Oxygen Tank at NASA Michoud Assembly Facility

A Liquid Oxygen tank being worked on inside Cell A at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility. It’s part of the Space…

Artemis, Liquid Oxygen Tank, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System
Inside NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, this massive blue structure is the Vertical Weld Center, used to fabricate the core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The machine employs friction-stir welding to join aluminum panels into large cylindrical sections that form the rocket’s fuel tanks. Operated by precision robotics, the weld center is one of the tallest of its kind in the world and plays a central role in preparing hardware for Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond.

NASA's welding tool, the worlds largest

Inside NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, this massive blue structure is the Vertical Weld Center, used to fabricate…

Artemis, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System, Vertical Assembly Center, Welder
A high-angle view inside NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans shows the enormous vertical welding and assembly bays used to build sections of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The towering circular structure on the left is part of the Vertical Weld Center, where cylindrical rocket segments are precisely joined using friction-stir welding. Catwalks and access platforms ring the interior, supporting technicians during construction of the world’s most powerful launch vehicle for the Artemis program.

Vertical Assembly and Welding Bay at NASA Michoud Assembly Facil

A high-angle view inside NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans shows the enormous vertical welding and assembly bays used…

Artemis, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System, Vertical Assembly Center
An elevated view of the overhead gantry crane system inside NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. These yellow steel cranes are used to lift and maneuver rocket sections, including the massive Space Launch System core stages, within the cavernous production hall. The network of platforms, rails, and suspended hooks demonstrates the industrial scale of spacecraft manufacturing that has taken place here since the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs.

Overhead Gantry Cranes at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility

An elevated view of the overhead gantry crane system inside NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. These yellow steel…

Artemis, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System, Vertical Assembly Center
Looking downward inside the Vertical Assembly Center at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, this view shows the precision alignment and welding platform used to assemble rocket stages. The towering blue and yellow structure is part of the tooling for the Space Launch System core stage, where massive aluminum sections are friction-stir welded to form part of NASA’s Artemis launch vehicles.

View Down the Vertical Assembly Center at NASA Michoud

Looking downward inside the Vertical Assembly Center at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, this view shows the precision…

Artemis, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System, Vertical Assembly Center
A stairwell winds through the interior of NASA’s Vertical Assembly Center at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. The industrial structure, with its orange and blue framework, provides access to various levels of the 170-foot-tall welding system used to assemble core stages of the Space Launch System. The facility supports precision manufacturing for the Artemis program’s heavy-lift rockets.

Stairwell Inside NASA’s Vertical Assembly Center

A stairwell winds through the interior of NASA’s Vertical Assembly Center at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. The…

Artemis, Louisiana, Nasa, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, SLS, Space, Space Launch System, Staircase, Vertical Assembly Center
1 2 Next →
  • Current Events  (6)
    • 2024 Republican National Convention  (1)
    • Annunciation Catholic Church Shooting  (1)
    • Minneapolis and COVID-19  (1)
    • No Kings, Hands Off, Good Trouble Protests  (1)
    • Tesla Takedown  (1)
  • Series  (1)
    • NASA Rocket Factory  (1)
  • Travel  (382)
    • Asia  (55)
      • Japan  (55)
        • Tokyo  (55)
    • Central America  (205)
      • Belize  (85)
      • Costa Rica  (51)
      • Guatemala  (69)
    • Europe  (18)
      • France  (18)
        • Paris  (18)
    • North America  (104)
      • United States  (104)
        • Massachusetts  (12)
          • Boston  (12)
        • Minnesota  (15)
          • Minneapolis  (15)
        • Nevada  (66)
          • Las Vegas  (66)
        • South Dakota  (10)
        • Wisconsin  (1)
          • Milwaukee  (1)

2024 Republican National Convention 2024 RNC 50501 Abandoned Ambergris Caye Art Bar Barricade Belize Biking Black Lives Matter Boards Bridge Brooklyn Center Brooklyn Center Police Burned Building Central America Chicago Ave Cityscape Construction Courthouse Daunte Wright Deona Marie Knajdek Derek Chauvin Derek Chauvin Trial Donald Trump Downtown Minneapolis E 38th St Election Elon Musk Fire Flyer George Floyd George Floyd Square Golden Valley Graffiti Graffiti Artist Green Bay Guatemala Hennepin Ave Hennepin County Government Center Hotel Japan Lake Street Las Vegas London March Memorial Metro Transit Midtown Greenway Milwaukee Minneapolis Minneapolis-Cityscape Minneapolis Police Minneapolis Police 3rd Precinct Minneapolis Police Officer Minneapolis Skyline MinneapolisUprising Minnesota Minnesota State Capitol Mural National Guard Neon Sign Nevada New York New York City NFL Stadium Nicolelt mall No Kings People Police Police Officer Police Station Politics Protest Protester Protest Sign Rally Republican National Convention Retail Store Riot Security Sign Snow South Minneapolis Squad Car Stadium State Subway Sunset Tesla Tesla Takedown Train Train Station Trial Trump Uptown Minneapolis USA Winston Smith Wisconsin

  • Home
  • Minneapolis Uprising
  • Travel
    • Belize
    • Bruges, Belgium
    • Costa Rica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Guatemala
    • Las Vegas
    • London
    • Tampa, Florida
    • Tokyo
  • Series
    • Minneapolis Uprising
    • Minneapolis and COVID-19
    • NASA Michoud Assembly Facility
    • Outside the 2024 Republican National Convention
    • Tesla Takedown: Minneapolis
    • No Kings – Hands Off – 50501 Protests Minnesota
  • Contact

© 1996-2025 Chad Davis
chad@chaddavis.photography

Built in Minneapolis.