NASA Michoud Vertical Assembly Area, SLS Rocket Stages

Look from the top of a NASA vertical assembly center
The towering interior of NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana, is dedicated to the fabrication and assembly of major components for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. This massive Vertical Assembly Area, characterized by its multilevel platforms, access walkways, and heavy structural supports, is engineered for the precision alignment of rocket stages. The facility's specialized environment is crucial for preparing the core stages that power the Artemis missions, which aim to return humans to the Moon and advance deep space exploration. Michoud has a significant history in American space endeavors, contributing to programs from Apollo to the Space Shuttle, and continues its legacy with the next generation of human spaceflight. Related photographs from the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where NASA’s Space Launch System core stages are assembled for Artemis missions.
Photo taken in August 2018.
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