The Roles of Michoud Assembly Facility
As NASA enters a new era in space travel, the Michoud facility is poised to not only continue supporting the Space Shuttle Program but also provide vital support to NASA's exploration mission to return humans to the moon and establish a presence on the lunar surface, and send the first crewed expeditions to Mars and destinations beyond.
Space Shuttle Propulsion
Today, Michoud's primary responsibility is the design, assembly and manufacture of the space shuttle's external tank. The external tank is the single largest element of the shuttle, 27.6 feet in diameter and standing as tall as a 15-story building. The tank holds more than 500,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellant, which is fed to the shuttle's three main engines during launch to power the vehicle to space.
Work at the facility includes integration of composite materials, which offer lighter weight and equivalent-or-greater strength than metals, into the external tank design. Michoud also is responsible for development of lightweight pressurized tanks for advanced satellite and commercial reusable launch vehicle systems, and other advanced manufacturing techniques applicable to the aerospace industry.
In support of NASA's exploration goals, Michoud has been selected as the site to manufacture several major components for the Constellation Program.
The facility will manufacture large structures and composites for the Orion crew exploration vehicle, the spacecraft that will carry up to six astronauts to space, and manufacture and assemble the upper stages of the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles.
These projects will ensure Michoud remains an integral player in carrying out NASA's primary objective of continuing a robust space exploration program that will aid in advancing our nation’s scientific, economic and security interests.