Walking into the Moonshot Museum feels like becoming a child again, dreaming of what lies beyond. Here, the astronauts of the future (and star-struck adults alike) can watch scientists working on state-of-the art technology that will travel almost 400,000km to the surface of the Moon.

Created with Pittsburgh space robotics company Astrobotic, the $2.5m (£2.2m) museum is a non-profit – and is part of the firm’s working warehouse. Its scientists and engineers design parts for Moon landers and rockets, while also coming up with innovative infrastructure plans for long-term lunar exploration, and eventually, habitation.

Visitors begin in a theatre. When the screen rises, windows expose a “clean room” where these pieces of technology are being constructed – a unique opportunity to see the future of space travel in action. The facility’s staff are currently working on a lunar lander that is set to be the first commercial spacecraft to land on the Moon. The next piece to be built will transport Nasa’s rover to the Moon’s surface and the one after that will be part of a mission to prove there is water ice on the lunar surface. This could be used to make rocket fuel, allowing for further exploration of the solar system.

“It will be a constantly changing and organic exhibit,” says Sam Moore, executive director at the Moonshot Museum. “We are not just a museum, but part of a working laboratory. This is the closest you can get to space travel here on Earth.”

On the days when the lab’s products start their journey to space, Moore aims to hold celebrations with local schools.

“We want the children of Pittsburgh to see they can have a career in space exploration. You don’t need to go to Florida, California or the Mojave Desert to work in this field,” he adds.

“You can stay right here in Pittsburgh and still be at the forefront of scientific discovery. This is the best place in the United States for robotics.”

Pittsburgh may not immediately register as a centre for cutting-edge science. The city’s history is solidly industrial as a hub for coal mining and steel production. Situated at an intersection between three rivers, it was easily navigable, and its natural resources provided the building blocks for a growing nation.

In the mid-50s, it was America’s eighth-largest city and accounted for nearly half of America’s national steel output. But when the industry all but disappeared, the city had to find a new destiny. Now Pittsburgh is a university town that entices graduates to make it their permanent home with its down-to-earth attitude and cultural scene, with world-glass galleries and mix of architectural styles. Pittsburgh has become an exciting place to visit – and live.

Moonshot adds to its appeal. It is hoped that the North Side, where the museum is located just a mile from the Carnegie Science Centre, will become an attraction for those interested in the sciences.

Moonshot asks the big questions of its visitors: What does space travel mean? Who does the Moon belong to? Can we do this safely and sustainably?

Most museums look back into the past – here, they look to the future.

The Moonshot Museum is open every Weds-Sun, £9.30 adults, £4.70 for ages three to 17. For more: moonshotmuseum.org, visitpittsburgh.com.

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