Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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Abbreviation	JPL
Formation	October 31, 1936
Founder	California Institute of Technology
Founded at	Pasadena, California
Type	Federally Funded Research and Development Center
Headquarters	La Cañada Flintridge, California
Director	Laurie Leshin
Parent organization	NASA
Website	jpl.nasa.gov

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The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a NASA center located in La Cañada Flintridge, California, specializing in the construction and operation of robotic spacecraft. JPL is managed by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and is responsible for the design, launch, and operation of planetary robotic spacecraft, as well as the development of space exploration technologies.

History[edit | edit source]

JPL was founded in the 1930s by a group of Caltech students and professors who were interested in rocket propulsion. The laboratory's early work focused on the development of rocket engines and missile technology. During World War II, JPL developed the WAC Corporal, the first American sounding rocket to reach the edge of space.

In 1958, JPL was transferred to NASA and became the agency's primary center for the robotic exploration of the solar system. JPL has been responsible for many of NASA's most successful missions, including the Mariner, Viking, Voyager, Galileo, Cassini, and Mars Science Laboratory missions.

Missions[edit | edit source]

JPL has been involved in numerous significant space missions, including:

Mariner program: The first successful missions to Venus and Mars.
Viking program: The first successful landers on Mars.
Voyager program: The first spacecraft to visit the outer planets.
Galileo: The first spacecraft to orbit Jupiter.
Cassini: The first spacecraft to orbit Saturn.
Mars Science Laboratory: The mission that delivered the Curiosity rover to Mars.

Facilities[edit | edit source]

JPL's main facilities are located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, near the Rose Bowl stadium. The laboratory includes a number of specialized facilities, including the Space Flight Operations Facility, the JPL Spacecraft Assembly Facility, and the JPL Environmental Test Laboratory.

Research and Development[edit | edit source]

JPL conducts research and development in a variety of areas related to space exploration, including:

Education and Outreach[edit | edit source]

JPL is committed to education and public outreach, offering a variety of programs and resources for students, educators, and the general public. These include the JPL Education Office, the JPL Open House, and the JPL Speakers Bureau.