Back to the Moon, then to Mars

As America celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first Moon landing, the folks at the Michoud assembly facility are celebrating the past and looking to the future.

Thirty-year Michoud veteran and resident manager Patrick Whipps says the new technology is something to behold.

"We're building the most powerful rocket that's ever been launched and it should enable us to send humans a thousand times farther than our missions to the Moon,'' Whipps said.

Speaking of the Moon, it looks like a return trip is in order.

"The nations space program is going back to the Moon as a proving ground for the new technologies and then on to our primary destination, the manned mission to Mars," said Whipps.

As exciting as it is for Michoud employees, Whipps is hoping many more will come on board and join the work force in coming years.