Pittsburgh may not be the first city that comes to mind when most people think about the space industry—but it should be.

Join us for a special Huntington Bank Breakfast Briefing featuring John Thornton, Executive Vice President of Astrobotic, and John Baum, Executive Vice President of Strategy & Advanced Concepts at Voyager Technologies.

This conversation will look beyond individual missions to explore the rapidly developing commercial space economy and Pittsburgh’s opportunity to help shape it. What will it take to establish a sustained presence on the Moon? Where will the next wave of business opportunities emerge? And how can companies specializing in robotics, manufacturing, software, artificial intelligence, materials and energy become part of an industry they may not currently consider their own?

Following the program, guests will depart for a tour of the Moonshot Museum and an up-close look at the innovation positioning Pittsburgh at the forefront of lunar exploration.

Mission Spotlight Griffin 1

Voyager's next lunar mission, Griffin 1, recently dubbed Moon Base II by NASA, is currently targeted for launch in late 2026. The mission will deliver the largest commercial payload ever sent to the lunar surface and serve as a cornerstone mission for NASA’s Moon Base at the lunar south pole.

Griffin 1 will transport Astrolab's FLIP rover, Voyager's CubeRover and additional commerical and government payloads from six countries, supporting long-term lunar exploration and infrastructure development. 

Griffin 1 at a Glance

· Payload capacity: 650 kilograms
· Total payloads: 10 from six countries
· NASA payloads: Five traveling to the lunar surface, including payloads carried aboard FLIP
· Landing site: Lunar south pole
· Estimated travel time: Approximately 10.5 to 25.5 days, depending on launch date, time and orbital dynamics 

Learn more about Voyager's lunar missions

Featured Speakers

John Thornton, Executive Vice President of Lunar Systems, Voyager Technologies

John Thornton is a technology executive and entrepreneur who has spent two decades building organizations, scaling high-growth companies and advancing public-private partnerships in the commercial space industry. He previously served as CEO of Astrobotic and is the founder and board chair of the Moonshot Museum.

John Baum, Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer, Voyager Technologies

John Baum leads Voyager’s marketing, brand management, communications strategy and strategic growth. His experience spans military operations, commercial innovation and government engagement, including service as an F-16 combat pilot, Weapons School instructor and Thunderbirds demonstration pilot.

Agenda:
9:30 AM | Registration, Breakfast and Networking
10:30 AM | Welcome, Introductions, Featured Conversation and Audience
10:45 AM | Depart for the Moonshot Museum Tour
11:30 AM | Event Concludes

Venue: 
CCAC | Foerster Student Services Center
839 Ridge Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Tour:
Moonshot Museum
1016 North Lincoln Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15233

Cost:

PTC Member $55 early bird |  $65 regular | $85 late/onsite
Non-Member $170 early bird | $180 regular | $200 late
*Early bird cut off date October 5, 2026

Thank you to our Title Sponsor:

Questions:

For Content or Programming Questions: Megan Colf, Senior Director, Major Programs and Events, mcolf@pghtech.org
For Registration Questions: Autumn Ashbaugh, Event Assistant, aashbaugh@pghtech.org.
For Sponsorship Questions: Ashley Steckel, Vice President of Business Development, asteckel@pghtech.org
For Membership Questions: Brooke Wozniak, Membership Development Manager, bwozniak@pghtech.org