Louisiana

Louisiana rocket powers Artemis II moon shot for NASA

Published

3 days ago

April 3, 2026

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Louisiana rocket powers Artemis II moon shot for NASA

A rocket largely built in Louisiana is powering the Artemis II mission to the moon.
NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans manufactured nearly 90 percent of the rocket.
Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed lunar mission since the final Apollo mission in 1972.
The mission’s crew is expected to travel farther from Earth than any previous human spaceflight.

A rocket built in Louisiana is powering Artemis II’s trip to the moon.

Nearly 90 percent of the rocket powering the mission was manufactured at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, which is known as “America’s Rocket Factory.”

“For generations, Louisiana has played a central role in America’s aerospace industry, anchored by NASA’s work at Michoud,” Louisiana Economic Development 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.”

NASA made history on April 1 when it launched a crew of four astronauts on a 10-day expedition around the moon and back, the agency’s first lunar launch since its last Apollo mission in 1972.

Michoud is an 829-acre facility located near downtown New Orleans that has a national economic impact of more than $507 million, according to Hansel Gill, director of NASA Michoud Assembly Facility.

“We are grateful for this opportunity to help strengthen our ties with the community,” Gill said in a statement.

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno held a watch party in her office for the April 1 launch, pointing to the blazing rocket during lift off.

“Incredibly proud that NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans East constructed the rocket that will send Artemis II to the moon,” Moreno said in a statement. “The team at Michoud is once again showing the level of innovation possible right here in New Orleans. Let this be a reminder that big things are possible in New Orleans, and when we’re all in, the sky, or even the moon, is the limit.”

Artemis II crew members are expected to travel “farther from Earth than any previous human mission,” according to NASA.

The expedition will send the crew about 252,000 miles into space, which will break the record set by the Apollo 13 mission in 1970, when it was roughly 248,000 miles from Earth.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

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Louisiana

Red, Rock & Blue: Registration deadline approaches for tournament benefitting La. military charities

Published

1 hour ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

Red, Rock & Blue: Registration deadline approaches for tournament benefitting La. military charities

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – The Red, Rock & Blue charity softball tournament to benefit Louisiana military charities is quickly approaching.

SLOW-PITCH SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

April 17 – April 19
BREC Oak Villa | Baton Rouge

Each team will get a three-game guarantee. There are different divisions for different skill levels.

Team registration is open to the public. You can register a team online.

The deadline to register is Friday, April 10.

Click here for more information about the 32nd annual charity slow-pitch softball tournament.

Past tournaments have been held in July, but the 2026 tournament was moved to spring for the cooler temperatures.

Red Rock and Blue typically gives $50,000 or more to military charities like The Blue Star Mothers of Louisiana and Gulf Coast Veterans each year.

The Caterie Reunion IV to benefit Red Rock and Blue is also set for August 15 at The Texas Club in Baton Rouge. More information on that event, including the musical lineup and ticket sales, is coming soon.

*WAFB is a sponsor and supporter of the Red, Rock & Blue non-profit organization.

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Click here to subscribe to our WAFB 9 News daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.

Watch the latest WAFB news and weather now.

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Louisiana

How carbon capture is becoming one of the biggest fights in Louisiana politics

Published

13 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

How carbon capture is becoming one of the biggest fights in Louisiana politics

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Mark T. Guillory, second from right, speaks to fellow members of Save My Louisiana and, on the far left, State Treasurer Dr. John Fleming on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2025, outside the 19th Judicial District courthouse in downtown Baton Rouge. The group sued the state of Louisiana to challenge a law that allows companies seeking to do carbon capture to store the gas under private land. Fleming, a critic of carbon capture who is running for U.S. Senate, was present for the news conference held immediately after the lawsuit was filed. Guillory, a Rapides Parish resident, is one of the plaintiffs. Gary Musgrove, president of the group, is fifth from the right.

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Louisiana

Vehicle hits revelers, injuring about 15, at Lao New Year celebration in Louisiana

Published

1 day ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

Vehicle hits revelers, injuring about 15, at Lao New Year celebration in Louisiana

More than a dozen people were injured when a vehicle struck revelers at a parade celebrating the Lao New Year on Saturday in rural Louisiana, authorities said.

The driver was quickly arrested and charged with impaired driving, police said.

Video shared on social media showed multiple people on the ground at the annual event in Broussard and New Iberia. The videos showed firefighters tending to one person trapped beneath the car, which wound up in a ditch along the parade route.

About 15 people were hurt, some seriously, according to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

“Based on the preliminary investigation, this does not appear to be an intentional act,” said a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office, Rebecca Melancon.

Acadian Ambulance, a private ambulance company, said on social media that it responded to the emergency at around 2:30 p.m. and sent 10 ambulances and a helicopter to aid the injured. Two patients were airlifted, it said.

The Louisiana State Police said the driver, who is 57 and lived in Jeanerette, La., appeared impaired when police arrived and later tested positive for a high blood alcohol level. He was charged with impaired, negligent and careless driving and having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.

The parade is part of a three-day New Year celebration set in the Lanexang Village, a Laotian neighborhood near New Iberia with hundreds of families near the Buddhist temple grounds of Wat Thammarattanaram.

It features Southeast Asian food, live music, a parade and other family-friendly activities attracting thousands each year.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry issued a statement on behalf of himself and his wife about the incident. “Sharon and I are praying for all those affected, and are grateful for the first responders who have responded to the scene,” he said.

The festival’s organizers issued a statement on Facebook saying they were “profoundly saddened” by the tragedy. “We are praying for the victims and for their families during this difficult time,” it said.

Afternoon and evening events were canceled, but the festival planned to hold religious services Sunday, the organizers said.

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