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Moonshot Museum

Future on the North Side

BACKSTORY:
Ladies and gentlemen,

The backstory to this is that I previously conducted an interview at the Moonshot Museum on BlogTalkRadio back when I was with the Red Star Show Podcast. That is all in the past, but I truly appreciate the Moonshot Museum giving me this opportunity to return and write another once-in-a-lifetime article with them.

Building a Space Future Right from Pittsburgh

By Robert J. Orwig

Three Rivers News

As Pittsburgh continues its transformation into a major hub for modern space exploration and technology, local institutions are ensuring the next generation knows they don’t have to leave home to reach the stars.

 

Mike Hennessy: Manager of Learning and Programs at the Moonshot Museum, shared how the facility is actively opening doors for local students and visitors to realize their potential in the thriving industry.

"We are all about finding your place in space," Hennessy explained. "Whatever your passions or talents are—science, art, building things, making things, marketing things—there is a place and a need for you in the space industry, and that space industry is right here in Pittsburgh."

Located on the North Side just a block from Acrisure Stadium, the Moonshot Museum offers interactive experiences designed to immerse visitors directly in space exploration. Guests can participate in dynamic team-building missions, such as drafting a future lunar government or creating a startup space business. Additionally, visitors get a front-row view into the cleanroom of Astrobotic, where real spacecraft are designed and assembled, often getting the chance to interact directly with the engineers and staff at work.

The museum’s reach extends far beyond its physical walls. Through traveling planetariums, robotics workshops, and educational assemblies, the team actively brings hands-on STEM and social studies programs directly into local schools.

 

Looking ahead to late August, the museum is taking a group of local students to Florida to witness the launch of NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. These students will serve as official mission ambassadors, creating social media content and visiting local youth organizations to promote space science and highlight Pennsylvania's growing space economy.

"Steel City to Space City," Hennessy noted, emphasizing the museum's mission to empower the next generation to celebrate and lead the region's expanding role in aerospace.

Moonshot Museum Image:

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Pittsburgh, PA – The City of Pittsburgh, in partnership with Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), Shiftworks Community + Public Arts (Shiftworks), and The Art Supply Co. (TASC), is bringing PittsBirds--a new public art project--to the heart of Pittsburgh. 

Designed along PRT’s new University Line, PittsBirds is a series of 20 bird-inspired artwork installations that create a visual thread on intersection signal control boxes and other infrastructure throughout the corridor. Once completed, the artwork encourages transit riders, pedestrians, cyclists, workers, and residents to seek out the individual birds and experience the corridor in a new way. 

"We’re excited to integrate public art along the University Line and can’t wait to see Pittsburghers discover new art on their daily commutes,” said Maria Cadena, Public Art Planner with the City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning. “Whether you’re biking, walking, or riding the bus, we encourage everyone to explore the pieces and find your favorite bird.”  

Marsha Rollinger, a Pittsburgh-area native, was selected as the artist for the University Line public art project for her use of bold colors and layered imagery. For PittsBirds, her work reflects the distinct character and stories of the communities along the University Line.  

“I grew up in the Pittsburgh area and it was exciting to learn so much more about the Downtown, Uptown, Hill District, and Oakland neighborhoods from all of the wonderful people who shared stories and gave input for this project through the online survey, in-person meetings, and community events," said Pittsburgh-based artist Marsha Rollinger. "PittsBirds is truly a community-driven art project. I hope the public enjoys seeking out all 20 of the bird artworks and learning the stories they have to tell.” 

Community connection is central to PittsBirds. As the project developed, Rollinger gathered stories and ideas from people who live, work, study, and travel along the University Line. That input informed the artwork's themes, designs, and locations. The result is a collection of birds that invite people to discover something new along their journey.

Installation of PittsBirds is currently underway, with most installations expected to be completed by the end of this month. Artwork will continue to appear along the University Line corridor through the fall as construction progresses. The University Line is currently in Phase Two of construction and is slated for completion in 2027. 

The University Line represents a significant investment in transportation and public infrastructure along one of the region’s most heavily traveled corridors. Connecting Downtown, Uptown, and Oakland through new rapid transit service, the University Line project includes 24 designated station locations and improvements to sidewalks, accessibility, protected bike lanes, traffic signals, landscaping, and other pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. Through PittsBirds, these infrastructure investments also create opportunities for creativity, discovery, and connection along the corridor. 

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