Michoud Assembly Facility: Vertical Assembly Structure

The Vertical Assembly Structure at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans is where the massive core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) is integrated. Michoud, established in 1940, has a long history of producing large-scale aerospace structures, including components for the Saturn V rocket and the Space Shuttle external tank. Today, it is central to the Artemis program, building the cryogenic fuel tanks and structural elements for the SLS, the vehicle intended for lunar exploration. The structure's complex scaffolding, access platforms, and fluid transfer lines underscore the precision engineering required for assembling these next-generation launch vehicles. Related photographs from the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where NASA’s Space Launch System core stages are assembled for Artemis missions.