Orion Crew Module Mid-Assembly at NASA Michoud

The Orion crew module is shown during its assembly at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana. This critical pressure vessel, constructed by Lockheed Martin, serves as the core structure for the spacecraft that will transport astronauts on future Artemis missions to the Moon and deep space. Its robust aluminum-lithium frame is precision-welded to withstand the extreme forces of launch and space travel, while the distinct black sections mark the locations for crew window openings. Following assembly and rigorous testing at Michoud, each unit is shipped to the Kennedy Space Center for integration with the European Service Module and the powerful Space Launch System rocket. Related photographs from the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where NASA’s Space Launch System core stages are assembled for Artemis missions.