The Orion spacecraft’s crew module sits on a transport platform at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana. Built by Lockheed Martin, this pressure vessel is the primary structure that will house astronauts during Artemis missions to the Moon. The aluminum-lithium frame, painted in primer yellow, is designed to withstand both launch forces and the harsh conditions of deep space. Each module undergoes precision assembly and testing at Michoud before being shipped to Kennedy Space Center for outfitting and integration with the Space Launch System rocket.

The Orion crew module is seen in mid-assembly at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Built by Lockheed Martin, the pressure vessel forms the core structure of the spacecraft that will carry astronauts on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. The aluminum-lithium frame is precision-welded to withstand the stresses of launch and deep-space travel, while the black sections mark window openings for crew visibility during flight. Each unit is assembled and tested at Michoud before being shipped to the Kennedy Space Center for integration with the European Service Module and the Space Launch System rocket.