NASA Vertical Weld Center, SLS & Artemis Production

The Vertical Weld Center (VWC) at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, which is producing components for the Space Launch System (SLS) and Artemis rockets. Shown here is the tool used to do the barrel fabrication. From NASA: The Barrel Fabrication process consists of the sequential trimming and welding of Barrel Panels on the Vertical Weld Center (VWC) to form a 8.4-meter barrel. Post-weld non-destructive evaluation is also performed while the Barrel is positioned on the VWC. Barrels will be fabricated for the LH2 Tank, LO2 Tank, Forward Skirt, and Engine Section and transported to Building 110 for weld operations on the Vertical Assembly Center. NASA says there are 40 different Barrel Panel configurations with various thicknesses and heights and the 32 barrels to be fabricated each weight between 6,600 to 9,500 pounds. Established in 1961, Michoud has been a critical manufacturing hub for American space programs, notably producing the Saturn V first stages for the Apollo missions and external tanks for the Space Shuttle program. Today, the facility is central to NASA's Artemis program, fabricating the core stage of the SLS rocket, which is designed to return humans to the Moon and eventually journey to Mars. This vast complex houses specialized tooling and assembly jigs, underscoring the precision engineering required for deep-space exploration. Related photographs from the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where NASA’s Space Launch System core stages are assembled for Artemis missions.