ICYMI: Louisiana Launches the United States Back to Space with NASA’s Artemis Moon Mission

NEW ORLEANS, La. – In recognition of the launch of NASA’s Artemis II mission, Louisiana is highlighting a legacy decades in the making. Nearly 90 percent of the rocket powering the mission was manufactured at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, part of a long-standing aerospace presence that has employed thousands of Louisianans and generated billions in economic impact for the state.

For more than six decades, Michoud has been a cornerstone of America’s space program, supporting missions from Apollo to the Space Shuttle to today’s Artemis program. The facility remains one of the largest manufacturing sites of its kind in the world and continues to anchor a regional aerospace ecosystem that supports high-skill jobs, local suppliers, and long-term economic growth across Southeast Louisiana.

“For generations, Louisiana has played a central role in America’s aerospace industry, anchored by NASA’s work at Michoud,” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “That history has built a skilled workforce, strong supplier networks and advanced manufacturing capabilities across the state. Artemis II reflects that foundation — and signals the opportunity ahead as Louisiana continues to grow its aerospace economy.”

Artemis II represents the latest milestone in that history. The mission’s Space Launch System rocket, the most powerful ever built, relies heavily on structures and components manufactured in New Orleans, reinforcing Louisiana’s essential role in human spaceflight,” President and CEO of GNO, Inc Michael Hecht said. “Artemis is not a one-off moment for this region, it is the continuation of a deep and durable economic engine. This is a sector that supports families with high-quality careers, sustains a broad network of contractors and suppliers, and reinforces Greater New Orleans as a serious center for advanced manufacturing. Artemis II is an incredible milestone, but it’s also a reminder that the region’s aerospace legacy is enduring, and its future is still being written.”

As this momentum continues, Louisiana’s aerospace and defense sector is expanding its impact, driving the manufacturing, technology and capabilities that support America’s missions while creating jobs and strengthening the state’s role in the U.S. defense economy.

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