Gov. Shapiro visits space company on North Shore preparing to send spacecraft to moon
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As many major tech companies nationwide announce job cuts, one right here in the Steel City is defying the odds.
“Pittsburgh space companies are not supposed to succeed. And yet, here we are,” said Astrobotic CEO John Thornton.
His company, located on the North Shore, is preparing to send one of its creations to the moon in just a matter of weeks.
“The spacecraft behind me will be the first lunar lander to touch down on the surface of the moon since Apollo,” Thornton said at an event Wednesday with Governor Josh Shapiro.
Shapiro toured the company’s facility and reaffirmed his commitment to growing the tech industry in the commonwealth.
“Astrobotic, I think, is an excellent example of both the enormous potential we have, right here in Pennsylvania, and our reach far beyond our state borders,” Shapiro said.
Astrobotic’s success comes as U.S. tech giants including Google, Microsoft, and Twitter have laid off more than 70,000 employees in the last year, according to CNBC.
Shapiro sees even more potential for Pennsylvania to continue bucking that trend.
“I want to create thousands more high-paying jobs right here in Western Pennsylvania around the idea of venturing into space,” he said.
With the Governor set to unveil his first budget proposal next week, he’s pledging major investments in university and tech research as well as training and job creation.
“That’s millions more you’ll see in my budget for students and millions invested in their future and their success and showing that connection between the work they do and the jobs of today and tomorrow,” said Shapiro.
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