NASA Michoud: SLS Rocket Vertical Assembly Bay

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. Related photographs from the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where NASA’s Space Launch System core stages are assembled for Artemis missions.