Mary-Louise Hoffman
NASA demonstrated a 170-foot welding platform for the Space Launch System at a ceremony held Friday at the agency’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.
The Vertical Assembly Center is designed to weld large cryogenic tanks that would power the rocket’s four-engine core stage, which is being constructed by Boeing, NASA said Friday.
“This rocket is a game changer in terms of deep space exploration and will launch NASA astronauts to investigate asteroids and explore the surface of Mars while opening new possibilities for science missions, as well,†said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.
Todd May, SLS program manager, added the rocket’s core stage and booster system have completed design evaluations and are ready to enter production phase.
NASA engineers have finished assembling SLS segmented support rings as well as barrels for the core-stage structure by using the agency’s other existing welding technology.
