NASA Michoud Workers Ready for Artemis III Mission

New Orleans facility plays key role in building core stages for upcoming Artemis lunar missions.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 1:55pm

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A bold, highly structured abstract painting featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals in earthy tones of green, brown, and blue, conceptually representing the complex engineering and assembly of the Artemis rocket core stage.The Michoud Assembly Facility's role in building the core stages for the Artemis lunar missions has reinvigorated the local community's pride and excitement around the space industry's economic impact in New Orleans East.New Orleans Today

More than 1,000 workers at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans East are gearing up to support the upcoming Artemis III mission to the Moon. The facility has played a crucial role in building the core stages for the Artemis II, III, IV, and V missions, with the Artemis II core stage already successfully launched and returned. As the Artemis program gains momentum, city and state leaders are eager to capitalize on the economic impact and growth opportunities presented by the space missions.

Why it matters

The Michoud facility has been integral to NASA's space program since the Apollo missions of the 1960s, providing high-paying engineering, manufacturing, and support jobs for the local community. The success of the Artemis II mission has reinvigorated excitement and pride around the facility's contributions, positioning New Orleans East as a key hub for the next generation of lunar exploration.

The details

The Michoud Assembly Facility is responsible for building the core stages for the Artemis III, IV, and V missions, which will be critical components in sending astronauts back to the Moon. On Monday, the core stage for the Artemis III mission will be loaded onto a barge and transported to Florida's Kennedy Space Center, where it will be integrated with the other rocket elements in preparation for next year's planned launch.

  • On April 1, 2026, the Artemis II mission successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center.
  • On April 14, 2026, the Artemis II Orion spacecraft safely splashed down, completing the mission.
  • On Monday, April 17, 2026, the core stage for the Artemis III mission will be rolled out from the Michoud facility and transported to Florida.

The players

NASA Michoud Assembly Facility

A major NASA manufacturing and assembly facility located in New Orleans East, Louisiana. The Michoud facility has played a crucial role in building the core stages for the Artemis lunar missions.

Keith Savoy

The deputy director of the NASA Michoud facility, who oversees the operations and economic impact of the facility in the local community.

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What they’re saying

“We believe it provides outstanding jobs, whether it's engineering, finance, a wide range of jobs, the economic impact here is tremendous, and the work here far from over.”

— Keith Savoy, Deputy Director, NASA Michoud Assembly Facility

What’s next

The core stage for the Artemis III mission will be transported to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where it will be integrated with the other rocket components in preparation for the mission's planned launch next year.

The takeaway

The success of the Artemis II mission and the continued role of the Michoud facility in building hardware for the Artemis program have reinvigorated the local community's pride and excitement around the space industry's economic impact in New Orleans East. As the Artemis program progresses, the Michoud facility is poised to play an even more crucial part in the next generation of lunar exploration.