Jet Propulsion Laboratory

The Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), in La Cañada Flintridge, near Pasadena, California, USA, builds and operates unmanned spacecraft for NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). JPL-run projects include the Galileo Jupiter mission and the Mars rovers, including the 1997 Mars Pathfinder and the twin 2003 Mars Exploration Rovers. To date, JPL has sent unmanned missions to every planet except Pluto. In addition, JPL has also done extensive mapping missions of the Earth. JPL also manages the world-wide Deep Space Network, with facilities in California's Mojave Desert, in Spain near Madrid and in Australia near Canberra.

Related Topics:
Caltech - La Cañada Flintridge - Pasadena, California - NASA - Galileo - Jupiter - Mars rover - 1997 - Mars Pathfinder - 2003 - Mars Exploration Rover - Planet - Pluto - Earth - Deep Space Network - California - Mojave Desert - Spain - Madrid - Australia - Canberra

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Almost all of the 177 acre (0.7 km²) JPL campus is actually located in the city of La Canada Flintridge, California, but the JPL main gate and several buildings are in Pasadena, so it maintains a Pasadena address (4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109). There are approximately 5,000 full-time employees, and typically a few thousand additional contractors work there on any given day. There are also some college student interns and co-op students. The lab has an open house once a year on a Saturday in May, when the public is invited to tour the facilities and see live demonstrations of JPL science and technology. More limited private tours are also available throughout the year if scheduled well in advance. Thousands of schoolchildren from around Southern California and elsewhere visit the lab every year.

Related Topics:
La Canada Flintridge, California - Pasadena

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