Jet Propulsion Laboratory

The Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) at Caltech has selected five new study topics to advance space exploration through collaborations, frameworks, and mission concepts. The projects aim to revolutionize space science and engineering by leveraging ties with JPL and connecting academia, commercial industry, and other stakeholders.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is testing ERNEST, a compact rover prototype designed for extreme terrain navigation, which recently traveled 16 miles across the Colorado Desert with minimal human intervention. The test aims to advance mobility and autonomy technologies for future Moon and Mars missions.

NASA and U.S. Geological Survey scientists are investigating a mineral discovery in California’s Mojave Desert, using technology developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to identify a potential porphyry copper deposit beneath a volcanic outcrop. The team examined a concentration of topaz detected by an airborne imaging instrument, focusing on its geological significance rather than its gemstone value.

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory maintains the 13-year-old Curiosity rover on Mars, enabling it to continue conducting scientific research. The article highlights strategies used to keep the rover operational and productive.

The competition for JPL's management is being scrutinized as either a political move or a budget solution, with experts noting that while competitive contracts can be positive, concerns arise due to the administration's anti-science reputation.

The article discusses competition for management of Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) amid a tense period, noting that while competitive contracts are not inherently negative, the administration's anti-science record has raised concerns.

A competition to manage NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is unfolding amid challenges including federal budget cuts, project overruns, and management issues. Experts suggest competitive contracts are not inherently problematic, but concerns persist due to the administration's perceived anti-science stance.

Caltech may lose control of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in La Cañada Flintridge for the first time since NASA's creation in 1958. The situation requires Caltech to compete for continued management of the facility.

NASA is opening bidding for the next contract to manage the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as the current agreement with Caltech is set to expire in 2028. This marks a significant transition for one of NASA's premier research institutions.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California may undergo a significant change in control for the first time in nearly a century. This potential organizational shakeup could alter the management structure of the iconic research center.

NASA's Psyche spacecraft used a close encounter with Mars as a dress rehearsal for its arrival at the Solar System's largest metal asteroid in 2029. The spacecraft launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and used Martian gravity to gain enough speed to reshape its orbit around the Sun. The Psyche mission is on a path to intercept its asteroid target.

NASA's Psyche mission will fly by Mars on May 15 to tweak its trajectory and accelerate towards its asteroid destination. The spacecraft was launched on October 13, 2023, and will pass 2,800 miles above Mars' surface. The flyby will also allow scientists to test and calibrate the spacecraft's instruments.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineers made a breakthrough in rotor technology for next-generation Martian rotorcraft, building on the success of the Ingenuity helicopter. The new technology will enable heavier payloads to be carried longer distances on Mars. NASA plans to send three more helicopters to Mars on the SkyFall mission, launching as soon as late 2028.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory successfully tested a powerful new electromagnetic thruster fueled by lithium vapor, reaching record-breaking power levels. This experimental engine could enable spacecraft to travel farther and more efficiently than ever before, potentially sending humans to Mars. The test marks a major step forward for the technology.

NASA is developing a new ion engine to send astronauts to Mars and has passed its first test. The magnetoplasmadynamic thruster runs on lithium metal vapor and can reach high power levels. This technology could enable future missions to Mars.

NASA has shut down Voyager 1's Low-Energy Charged Particles (LECP) instrument to conserve power as the aging spacecraft continues its journey through interstellar space. The decision aims to extend Voyager 1's operational lifespan amid annual power losses from its decaying plutonium-powered generators. The spacecraft, now over 15 billion miles from Earth, still operates two science instruments measuring plasma waves and magnetic fields.

The Trump administration's 2027 budget request proposes cuts to NASA that could further challenge the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in La Cañada Flintridge, impacting its space missions.