NEW ORLEANS — A little piece of New Orleans created at the NASA Michoud facility will soon be put together for a massive history-making rocket.
Much like the hands that put it together, the massive gas tank will soon be a part of something much bigger than itself. The space launching system is the first to come out of NASA's New Orleans East facility since the 1970's.
"The SLS core stage is a 212-foot-long booster segment that's going to propel American astronauts back to the moon for the first time in 55 years," said Chandler Scheuermann NASA Production Manager.
The team of astronauts will make history as the first woman, person of color, and Canadian to board a spaceship and set the stage to return to the moon, then go further than humans have ever gone before.
"The crew they are rockstars everybody kind of wants to be around them and talk to them and see what's going through their heads," said Matt Ramsey Artemis II mission manager.
"I feel like we just did a few laps in a pool because of the humidity in the air," said Reid Wiseman Artemis II Commander.
Wiseman said he is looking forward to the cool temperatures on board the Orion Spaceship and a view like no other.
"I want to feel the raw emotion of going around the moon looking from the moon and our beautiful planet, our beautiful planet Earth with Jeremy with Victor with Christina, I just want to record that I will cherish that forever," he said.
As the first Canadian set to go to outer space, Jeremy Hansen, Artemis Mission Specialist, said the exploration is so much more than a historic mission.
"First are important but it's really important not to be the last and that's the mission behind the team," Hansen said. "Artemis II is just a stepping stone. We're going to do some extraordinary things in the future, walking on the moon, we're going to send people to Mars".
It's a chance to be a part of something much bigger than himself, Wiseman said.
"We have over 40 nations around the world that are coming together for the peaceful expiration of the moon and deep space that is bringing the world together. That is what we want to encourage Artemis," he said.
Once the 212-foot system makes its way on a barge, it's going to be heading over to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where it will be put together with the projected launch of September 2025.
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