Thornton said the moon landing would be an exclamation point on Pittsburgh’s transformation over several decades. What was once the world’s steelmaking capital is now leading the charge in education, medicine and technology— and the world is watching.
“There’s plenty of work to do on the moon,” Thornton said. “Another step would be resource extraction and utilization. Finding water at the poles of the moon would be a game-changer in terms of access. Water on the moon is like oil here on Earth. If water is found there, you have water to drink, oxygen to breathe, and you can even split water and turn it into rocket fuel.” History in Our Hometown Astrobotic’s offices are located on the North Side, just a few blocks from Heinz Field and Carnegie Science Center. 2022 is a landmark year for the company in many ways because it is Astrobotic’s 15th anniversary, and it is scheduled to have its first moon landing later this year. “This will be the first American trip to the surface of the moon since Apollo and the first-ever commercial landing on the surface of the moon,” Thornton said. “It will signal the dawn of a new era of exploration, science and discovery on the moon. It’s critical to land successfully and show the world that a company right here in Pittsburgh can achieve this huge milestone.”
“We’re very excited about this happening in Pittsburgh,” Thornton said. “Mission control is going to be operating spacecraft and scientific instruments from right here in our office on the North Side. When we land, we imagine you’ll be able to hear our cheers echoing from the North Shore. We want the city to feel that sense of accomplishment with us. If Pittsburgh can land on the moon, Pittsburgh can do anything.” To learn more about Astrobotic or how you can book a MoonBox, visit Astrobotic.com.
THE MOONSHOT MUSEUM Astrobotic’s mission is to make space accessible to everyone. That’s why the company launched the Moonshot Museum, a nonprofit museum that offers an unparalleled window into the construction of real lunar spacecraft. The museum, located at Astrobotic’s headquarters on the North Side and slated to open to the public later this year, aims to inspire a diverse community to find their
place in the future of human space exploration through innovative exhibitions and programs fueled by science, technology, engineering and the arts. Visitors can go on simulated lunar missions, see real spacecraft as they’re being built and much more. “The Moonshot Museum will be a public access point for the Pittsburgh region to see the exciting work and technology happening here,” Thornton said. “It’s an in-depth, immersive experience that will help show the next generation of engineers and business leaders what the future of space exploration looks like.”
To learn more about the museum, visit moonshotmuseum.org.
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