Vertical Assembly Center

9 photos · 2018

9 photographs tagged Vertical Assembly Center, 2018.

NASA Vertical Assembly Center at Michoud — The Vertical Assembly Center rises inside the Michoud Assembly Facility, where major sections of NASA’s Space Launch System core stage are stacked and integrated. This multi-story structure supports the alignment and joining of large rocket elements, including propellant tanks and structural segments, into a single flight article. Built at Michoud and later transported for testing and launch, each core stage reflects the continuation of large-scale rocket manufacturing at a facility that has supported U.S. human spaceflight since the Saturn V program.

From the top of NASAs cleaning cell at Michoud — The Space Launch System (SLS) Fuel Tank Cleaning Cell is situated within the Vertical Assembly Center at NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana. This specialized facility is engineered to meticulously clean the interior of the massive fuel tanks destined for the Space Launch System rocket. The SLS rocket, designed to be the world’s largest, is a cornerstone of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon. The rigorous cleaning process is essential to maintain the structural integrity and optimal performance of these critical components for future space missions.

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.

Largest welding tool in the world at NASA — The Vertical Weld Center (VWC) at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans is a critical piece of infrastructure for American space exploration. This massive blue structure, completed in 2014, is specifically designed to fabricate the core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. It employs advanced friction-stir welding and precision robotics to join large aluminum panels into cylindrical sections, forming the rocket’s fuel tanks. As one of the tallest weld centers globally, the VWC plays a central role in preparing hardware for the Artemis missions, which aim to return humans to the Moon and eventually journey to Mars.

Cleaning and welding cells inside NASA vertical assembly — Inside NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Vertical Assembly Bay is where the core stages of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket are constructed. This immense industrial space houses the Vertical Weld Center, utilizing advanced friction-stir welding techniques to precisely join cylindrical segments of the world's most powerful launch vehicle. Established during World War II, the Michoud facility has a long history of producing large-scale aerospace structures, including components for the Saturn V rocket and Space Shuttle external tanks. Today, it plays a critical role in the Artemis program, manufacturing the hardware essential for returning humans to the Moon and preparing for future missions to Mars.

Overhead Gantry Cranes at NASA Michoud — An elevated platform provides a perspective of the overhead gantry crane system within NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana. These massive yellow steel cranes are essential for lifting and maneuvering large rocket sections, including the core stages of the Space Launch System (SLS), within the vast production hall. Michoud has served as a primary manufacturing site for American space programs since the Apollo and Space Shuttle eras, demonstrating its long-standing role in spacecraft production. Today, the facility continues to be critical for the Artemis program, where these industrial cranes facilitate the assembly of components vital for future lunar and deep-space missions.

View Down the Vertical Assembly Center at NASA Michoud — The Vertical Assembly Center at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a critical component in the production of space launch vehicles. This towering blue and yellow structure precisely aligns and friction-stir welds massive aluminum sections, forming the core stages of the Space Launch System (SLS). The SLS core stage is a foundational element of NASA’s Artemis program, designed to return humans to the Moon and support future deep-space exploration. Michoud Assembly Facility has a rich history in aerospace manufacturing, having produced components for the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs before its current role in the Artemis missions.

Stairwell Inside NASA’s Vertical Assembly Center — A stairwell provides access within NASA’s Vertical Assembly Center at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana. This industrial structure, characterized by its orange and blue framework, serves the 170-foot-tall welding system critical for assembling core stages of the Space Launch System (SLS). The facility is a cornerstone for precision manufacturing, directly supporting the Artemis program's development of heavy-lift rockets for deep space exploration.

Top down view of the Vertical Assembly Facility — The Vertical Assembly Center at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a critical piece of infrastructure for space exploration. This 170-foot-tall blue structure is engineered to precisely align and weld large sections of the Space Launch System (SLS) core stage. The SLS core stage serves as the primary rocket for NASA's Artemis missions, which aim to return humans to the Moon and prepare for future deep space travel. The facility plays a central role in the production of these powerful launch vehicles, supporting the nation's ongoing space endeavors.

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