Michoud Assembly Facility - Job Cuts

Curious to know how deeply these job losses will get at Michoud as a result of budget cuts. Will they eventually relocate all employees and shutter the place? Will they keep a skeleton crew and if so what will that look like?

Is Lockheed folding up their tent or will they keep a presence in New Orleans? What happens to all the Aerospace Engineers and their families if Lockheed pulls out of the area? What are the chances of them being absorbed in to the local work force?

spcecadet20,

As you know, a lot of what happens at Michoud is a direct result of decisions made in Washington. At the moment, NASA is in limbo, and it's hard to say which direction it will go in. The best case scenarios (for us) would be that either 1) the shuttle program gets extended and NASA wants us to build more tank or 2) the Constellation program gets restructured (right now it's too far over budget to make any real progress) and NASA sends some of that work to Michoud. Either way, it will depend on what kind of budges NASA gets from congress and what the NASA execs decide to do with that money. Fortunately, Lockheed-Martin has a good relationship with NASA, and Michoud has a good relationship with Lockheed, so we are in good shape IF NASA decides to keep flying in some capacity.

The other scenario is (as you mentioned) that Lockheed "folds up." This is recognized as a possibility and the Louisiana government is currently taking steps to attract more private sector advanced manufacturing work to Michoud and the surrounding area (also to Stennis). The MAF is a valuable and unique asset to this state and government will make every effort to ensure that Michoud stays open and people keep working there.