PENNSYLVANIA — Astrobotic, a leading space robotics company, is set to expand its operations in Pittsburgh. Yesterday, Governor Josh Shapiro and Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger joined Astrobotic at the Moonshot Museum on the North Shore to announce the company’s plans to renovate a five-story, 46,000-square-foot vacant building located at 1106 Reedsdale Street in Pittsburgh.
The company’s expansion project, which includes a $20 million investment in facility renovations, is expected to create 283 new high-tech jobs and retain 174 existing positions. The new space will serve as an extension of Astrobotic’s current headquarters and will also house the Keystone Space Collaborative’s Innovation Center. This center will provide programmatic and co-working space for Keystone members and serve as the location for the AFWERX/SpaceWERX Pittsburgh Hub.
“Pennsylvania is leading the way in technology and innovation,” said Governor Shapiro. “This expansion is another example of our commitment to investing in these growing industries and making Pennsylvania an economic powerhouse.”
Astrobotic CEO John Thornton echoed this sentiment, stating, “Our expansion here in Pittsburgh solidifies the city’s status as a regional and national leader in the space industry.”
Astrobotic, a spin-off from Carnegie Mellon University, is known for developing advanced space robotics capabilities and making space accessible to various organizations worldwide. The company’s lunar lander, Peregrine, is set to carry out the first commercial mission to the Moon and be the first American spacecraft to land on the Moon since the Apollo program. The launch is slated for December 2023.
The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) has proposed a funding package to support Astrobotic’s expansion. The proposal includes a $1,981,000 Pennsylvania First grant, a Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) loan of $2.4 million, Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding, and private bank financing.
Although the company received offers to relocate to other states, including Florida and Texas, Astrobotic has chosen to remain in Pennsylvania. “We are proud to be part of Pennsylvania’s rich history of innovation and look forward to contributing to its bright future,” said Thornton.
The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team (GAT), a group of economic development professionals who work with businesses considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth’s investments in Astrobotic have helped the Pittsburgh-based company create hundreds of new, high-paying jobs and enabled Pennsylvania to lead America back to the moon.
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