Path to Mars winds through a small machine shop in South El Monte

Juan Avila works on the Orion crew module hatch panel at AMRO Fabricating Corp. in South El Monte. AMRO is a three-generation family-owned business that makes panels for NASA.

Technician Erick Dominguez works on a Space Launch System rocket panel at AMRO Fabricating Corp. in South El Monte.

Luis Pacheco, a machine shop helper, works on the Space Launch System intertank thrust panel at AMRO Fabricating Corp. in South El Monte.

Technician Thomas Lopez, left, and Isidro Castro, carefully move a panel at AMRO Fabricating Corp. in South El Monte.

Carlos Lopez works with welding equipment at AMRO Fabricating Corp. in South El Monte. AMRO is making the enormous aluminum panels that will constitute much of the Space Launch System rocket’s body, as well as major parts of the Orion crew capsule that astronauts will ride in.

Three generations of AMRO Fabricating Corp.: From left are Mike Riley, assistant director of program management; Steven M. Riley, vice president; and Michael K. Riley, co-founder.

Panel technician Isidro Castro can be seen through a rocket access window at AMRO Fabricating Corp. in South El Monte. AMRO opened in 1977 with six employees.

Hector Zepeda grinds metal in preparation for welding at AMRO Fabricating Corp. in South El Monte. The machine shop builds rocket panels for NASA.

Panel technician Erick Dominguez smooths a Space Launch System rocket panel at AMRO Fabricating Corp., a three-generation family-owned machine shop in South El Monte.

Panel technician Thomas Lopez, left, and Isidro Castro, carefully move a panel at AMRO Fabricating Corp. in South El Monte. Working on a Boeing subcontract, AMRO is humming with work on the Space Launch System rocket for NASA.