NASA’s Michoud Facility gears up for Artemis II mission marking a new era in lunar exploration

As NASA braces for its momentous Artemis II mission, marking the agency’s first crewed launch beyond low Earth orbit in more than 50 years, the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans stands as a cornerstone of America’s rocket production legacy. This expansive facility, which encompasses 832 acres and boasts over two million square feet of operational space, has played a pivotal role in the U.S. space endeavors traversing from the historic Moon landings to the Space Shuttle program and now the Space Launch System for Artemis.

NASA took possession of the Michoud Ordnance Plant in 1961, following a recommendation from prominent aerospace engineer Wernher von Braun. Originally constructed during World War II for producing cargo planes and later repurposed for tank engines, the site was perfectly equipped with vast assembly bays, considerable ceiling heights, and barge access via the Intracoastal Waterway and Mississippi River—essential features for constructing large rocket components that would ultimately be transported to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

In the 1960s, the facility was transformed by contractors Chrysler and Boeing into a key manufacturing site for the Saturn rocket series. Chrysler was responsible for producing the S-IB first stages of the Saturn IB, while Boeing tackled the massive S-IC first stages for the Saturn V, renowned as the most powerful rocket ever launched. This production supported the Apollo program until its conclusion in December 1972, facilitating the lunar landings that reshaped our understanding of space.

After Apollo, Michoud transitioned its focus to the Space Shuttle program. From 1973 to 2010, Martin Marietta, which later merged into Lockheed Martin, was in charge of fabricating all 136 external tanks used in Shuttle missions. The first of these tanks debuted in 1979 for the initial Shuttle flight, STS-1, while the last left the facility in 2010 for STS-134. These tanks were transported via the Pegasus Barge, which has since been retrofitted for SLS core stages. Notably, the iconic orange color of the external tanks stemmed from the foam insulation, which was left unpainted after testing proved that it could withstand degradation caused by sunlight.

With the Shuttle program’s retirement, Michoud pivoted once more, this time to support the SLS initiative. Boeing serves as the primary contractor for the 212-foot-tall core stage, while Lockheed Martin is also responsible for producing Orion spacecraft components at the facility. The first core stage successfully powered the uncrewed Artemis I flight in 2022, paving the way for the upcoming Artemis II mission—set to be the first crewed mission since Apollo, launching four astronauts on a journey around the Moon.

The second core stage for Artemis II rolled out from Building 110 on July 16, 2024, precisely 55 years after Apollo 11’s launch, before being transported to Kennedy Space Center. As production processes have progressed, the efficiency of workflows has improved. For future missions starting with Artemis III, the majority of the core stage’s upper components will be assembled at Michoud, while final outfitting occurs at Kennedy’s Vehicle Assembly Building, allowing for simultaneous work on multiple stages.

Looking ahead, Michoud continues to progress on core stages for Artemis IV and beyond. Although NASA canceled the more powerful Exploration Upper Stage program, a section of Michoud initially designated for that project will be repurposed to support the new upper stage plans with United Launch Alliance’s Centaur V.

The dedication of the Michoud workforce has garnered widespread respect throughout NASA and its contractor circle. This team has persevered through significant challenges, including pressing inquiries from the media following the 2003 Columbia disaster and the immense hurdles posed by Hurricane Katrina and a 2017 tornado, often while facing personal difficulties at home.

As NASA charts a path to return humans to the lunar surface within this decade, the Michoud Assembly Facility will remain integral to those efforts, underscoring its continuous evolution and commitment to human exploration in the cosmos.