Few cities are as identifiable for its industry as Pittsburgh. Our reputation as a steel town is reinforced on every black and gold NFL jersey, and to many, the 'Burgh is synonymous with soot. That's one reason visitors are surprised to find a city quite different from that of its gritty past.
Showcasing that dichotomy is the Moonshot Museum, an exhibition of robotics and space exploration completed in 2022. The museum is a testament to Pittsburgh's evolution -- yesterday's metals and manufacturing parlayed into mission simulations and spaceship construction.
Taking center stage at the museum is Astrobotic, a space robotics company headquartered in Pittsburgh and founded by Carnegie Mellon professor Red Whittaker. Astobotic shares a space with the museum, and one of its labs serves as an exhibit.
The company specializes in land rovers and lunar landers, one of which is currently under construction in the museum. When this project, a lunar lander named Griffin, is completed in late 2025, the spacecraft will be the first to land on the moon's surface since the Apollo program ended 50 years ago. Griffin will alight on the moon's south pole with a mission to locate ice -- valuable information for future landings.
Dr. Jimyse L. Brown, who recently joined the museum as executive director, says, "This lander will play a crucial role in delivering payloads to the Moon, bolstering both scientific research and commercial ventures. The initiative does more than showcase cutting-edge aerospace technology -- it enriches our educational offerings by connecting STEAM concepts with real-world applications, making the science behind space exploration tangible and exciting for all our visitors."
Brown, notably, is the first Black leader of a space museum in Pennsylvania.
Since opening, the museum has seen a steady increase in attendance, says Brown. Feedback, especially from students and community groups, has been positive, and Brown says many express a newfound excitement for space and science. The museum's mission is to give visitors a window into the field of space exploration, both literally and figuratively. A giant glass partition puts visitors just steps away from lunar spacecraft like Griffin that are under active assembly.
Museum exhibits also provide hands-on activities meant to engage kids growing up in a space-accessible world. Visitors can manipulate 3D printed test models of the Cube Rover and scale rocket models, making challenging decisions that affect result in interactive scenarios, and design a mission patch. Exhibits are geared toward science, technology, engineering, art, and math, or STEAM as it's known in education circles.
Brown, who took over the director helm this summer, appreciates the impact the museum is having, especially on student visitors. "By showcasing real-time spacecraft construction and offering hands-on STEAM learning experiences, we're not only sparking interest in space exploration, but also educating, empowering, and inspiring the next generation of aerospace professionals," she says.
The museum's total transparency in spacecraft technology is a sharp reversal from the 20-year Space Race. That period between the 1970s and the '90s thrived on secrecy so as not to give Russian competitors the edge. Lunar landers were constructed and tested behind closed doors, making the space industry a mystery to most.
Now, visitors to the Moonshot Museum can watch engineers take a lunar lander from idea to execution. Just like that, space technology has become accessible and relatable -- at least to the Pittsburghers and others who walk through the door.
New exhibit additions are on the horizon. Brown says that next up is a limited-time exhibit, VOLT, which delves into innovative electric propulsion technologies used in space exploration. Under the NASA TEAM II Grant, the museum will also host the construction of a mobile planetarium and develop engaging virtual reality games.
Brown says it's all part of the museum's growth plan. "These initiatives will not only expand our exhibits but also strengthen our educational programs, allowing us to inspire and prepare more young people for careers in the space industry. These exciting developments will continue to position Moonshot Museum as a leader in space education and public engagement."