What We Do
Astrobotic is a pioneering space exploration company aiming to make space accessible to the world. Specializing in both lunar and terrestrial systems and with a robust portfolio of over 60 NASA, DoD, and commercial contracts valued at over $600 million, we cover a lot of ground (and space). Our technical expertise ranges from designing and manufacturing lunar landers and rovers to creating power infrastructure networks to terrestrial rockets and rocket testbeds. We excel in spacecraft navigation technology, machine vision algorithms, and hazard detection sensors powered by machine learning.
Meet the Leadership Team
This team leads Astrobotic’s Engineering, Science, Operational, and Administrative Departments. Together they manage employees with more than 1,000 years of combined experience across the space industry. From world-class engineers and mission designers to experts in finance, operations, and marketing, this multidisciplinary team is united by a shared mission to make space accessible to the world.
John Thornton
CEO
About
John Thornton has grown Astrobotic’s business of delivering affordable space robotics technology and planetary missions by attracting technology contracts, equity investment, and payload customers. Under his leadership, the company has booked three lunar missions with its Peregrine, Griffin, and MoonRanger spacecraft. At Carnegie Mellon University, Thornton led the build of Scarab, a NASA concept rover for lunar drilling, and the first rover to carry a prototype of the NASA RESOLVE payload that will now be flying to the lunar south pole on the NASA VIPER rover aboard Astrobotic’s Griffin lander. Thornton also founded the Carnegie Mellon University Advanced Composites Lab, a research, training, design, and manufacturing program specializing in high performance, lightweight composites for robotics.
Dan Hendrickson
Vice President of Business Development
About
Dan Hendrickson leads Astrobotic’s business development efforts and payload sales. Prior to Astrobotic, Hendrickson served as the Director of Civil and Commercial Space Systems at the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). During his time at AIA, Hendrickson was a consensus builder among a council of 50 U.S. space companies to provide the U.S. Government guidance on key space industry interests. Before transitioning to AIA, Hendrickson served as a civilian mission assurance engineer at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on five successful Atlas V launch campaigns.
Steve Clarke
Vice President of Space Programs
About
Steve Clarke serves as the Vice President of Landers & Spacecraft at Astrobotic where he oversees the development of all lunar lander missions at the company. Clarke was previously with NASA for 23 years and held many senior leadership positions within the human spaceflight, science, and aeronautics mission directorates. He also served as a senior policy analyst at the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
He has over 39 years of experience in executive leadership; systems engineering; program and project management of scientific research programs, civil, national security space, and commercial satellite, launch vehicle, aircraft, and airspace programs; international partnerships; operations; acquisition; budget development and execution; policy development and implementation.
Clarke holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering technology and a Master of Science degree in industrial engineering from the University of Central Florida.
Frank Peri
Director of Engineering
About
Frank Peri serves as the Director of Engineering, Landers & Spacecraft at Astrobotic. Peri previously worked as the Director of Engineering at Science Systems and Applications, Inc and was responsible for overall engineering activities at the company.
Peri had a long history at NASA, serving as the Director for the Safety and Mission Assurance Office at NASA’s Langley Research Center, Deputy Director for the Engineering Directorate at NASA Langley Research Center, Program Manager for the Earth System Science Pathfinder (ESSP) Program, and Program Manager for the Exploration Technology Development Program (ETDP) as part of the agency’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate.
Peri received his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Akron.
Leanne Dummer
Director of Operations
About
Leanne Dummer is head of the Operations Department, leading cross functional groups in support of our various programs and corporate initiatives. She is responsible for Procurement, Information Technology, Quality, Safety, and Facilities Management with an emphasis on driving standardized operational excellence.
Dummer’s 20+ years of experience spans across operational leadership roles in manufacturing, quality, materials, supply chain, systems/process integration, and facility management in the electronics manufacturing industry. She started her career working for TUV Management Service, an EU regulatory agency, where she spent time testing electronic products to immunity and emission standards, and performing safety compliance, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 audits.
From there, she was recruited by Picosecond Pulse Labs, now Tektronix, as the Director of Quality where she successfully developed and implemented a quality management system from the ground up. After that she served in manufacturing and quality leadership roles for Spectra Logic Corporation where she was responsible for the assembly, integration, test and the quality of robotic data archival systems while leading continuous improvement efforts and several new system integrations. Most recently, she was the Group Operations Manager for Progeny Systems LLC (a DOD contractor and subsidiary of General Dynamics Mission Systems) with oversight of all Pennsylvania manufacturing operations and facilities.
She recently led efforts to integrate production and security required infrastructure in a new facility supporting increased manufacturing volume and the required DCSA open area storage approval.
Dummer has a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado and a holds a DOD secret level security clearance.
Leslie Quealy
Director of People
About
Leslie Quealy is a seasoned Human Resources executive leader who brings her extensive experience in the manufacturing and engineering sectors to the role of Director of People at Astrobotic. Over a 30-year career, Quealy has been instrumental in driving organizational growth and aligning HR strategies with business objectives. Renowned for a forward-thinking approach, she excels in talent development, workforce planning, and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.
With a proven track record of designing and implementing people-focused strategies, Quealy has successfully led initiatives in leadership development, HR technology and emerging systems, and employee engagement, contributing to sustained business success. Leveraging deep industry knowledge, Quealy partners with executive leadership to navigate change, optimize workforce performance, and support long-term strategic goals.
Quealy’s expertise lies in bridging the gap between operational needs and human capital, ensuring that HR functions as a strategic driver of organizational excellence. She has a B.S. from Penn State in Business Logistics and an M.S. from Duquesne University in Leadership and Business Ethics. Quealy and her husband Tom live in North Huntingdon and love spending time with their adult children Tommy, Courtney and Trey.
Meet The Astrobots
Since our founding in 2007, we’ve grown to more than 130 employees. We’re building and operating spacecraft, landers, and rovers on-site at our “Moon Base” headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA.
Pittsburgh, PA
Astrobotic HQ
Our 47,000 square foot complex is the largest private facility in the world dedicated to lunar logistics. Astrobotic uses the facility to build and operate its lines of landers, rovers, autonomous spacecraft navigation systems, and other space technologies. Payloads will be controlled directly from the Astrobotic Mission Control Center inside our headquarters located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s North Side.
Mojave, CA
Astrobotic TEsting Facility
[placeholder] Our 47,000 square foot complex is the largest private facility in the world dedicated to lunar logistics. Astrobotic uses the facility to build and operate its lines of landers, rovers, autonomous spacecraft navigation systems, and other space technologies. Payloads will be controlled directly from the Astrobotic Mission Control Center inside our headquarters located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s North Side.
Looking for something else?
We’re at the forefront of advancing space exploration and technology development. Our expertise spans from lunar rovers, landers, and infrastructure to spacecraft navigation, machine vision, and computing systems.