The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center located in Lakenyada, California, and California, U.S.APasadena。
JPL consists ofCalifornia Institute of Technology(Caltech) management for NASA.The main function of the laboratory is to build and operate planetary spacecraft, although it also carries out Earth orbit and astronomy missions.It also operates NASA's deep space network.
At present, the main activities in the laboratory include the Mars Science Laboratory mission (including Curiosity Mars),Cassini-HuygensMission around Saturn, Mars exploration train opportunity,Mars Reconnaissance OrbiterDawn mission to dwarf planet Ceres and asteroid Vesta, Juno spacecraft of Juno spacecraft, NuSTARX-ray telescopeandSpitzer Space Telescope 。 They are also responsible for managing the JPL small database and providing physical data and publication lists for all known small solar system organizations.
JPL covers a total area of 177 acres (about 72 hectares), all of which are owned by the government.However, the gate of the laboratory and some office buildings are located in Pasadena, a small city, so it also retains its address in Pasadena.
Historical evolution
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JPL's Guggenheim Aviation Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology (GALCIT) can be traced back to the first group of rocket experiments conducted in Arroyo Seco in 1936.Frank Malina, a graduate student at the California Institute of Technology,Weld Arnold，Apollo M. O. Smith，Qian Xuesen, Jack Parsons and Edward S. Forman jointly tested a small ethanol fuel engine to collect data from Malina's graduate thesis.Malina's thesis consultant is Theodore von K á rm á n, an engineer/aerodynamic scientist. He finally won the financial support of the US Army for the "GALCIT Rocket Program" in 1939.In 1941, Malina, Parsons, Forman, Martin Summerfield and pilot Homer Bushey demonstrated the first JATO rocket.In 1943, von K á rm á n, Malina, Parsons and Forman established Aerojet to produce JATO motors.The project, named Jet Propulsion Laboratory, was established in November 1943 and officially became an army facility under the contract management of the university.[1-2]
In the Army era of JPL, the laboratory developed two deployed weapon systems, Corporal MGM-5 and Sergeant MGM-29ballistic missile。 These missiles were the first American ballistic missiles developed at JPL.It has also developed some other weapon system prototypes, such as LokiAir defense missileSystem, and the predecessor of Aerobee sounding rocket.At different times, it was at the Baisha Experimental Ground,Edwards Air Force BaseAnd Goldstone, California.The lunar lander was also developed in 1938-39, which influenced the design of Apollo lunar module in the 1960s.
JPL was transferred to NASA in December 1958, becoming the agency's main planetary spacecraft center.JPL engineers designed and operated Ranger and Surveyor missions to the moon to prepare the way for Apollo.JPL is still on a mission with Mercury to Venus, Mars and Mercury[2]Played a leading role in interplanetary exploration.In 1998, JPL opened NASA's Near Earth Object Program Office.
Laboratory composition
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The JPL Education Office provides educators and students with activities, resources, materials, and opportunities related to NASA missions and science.The mission of the course is to introduce and further students' interest in pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers.
Internship and scholarship
JPL provides research, internship and scholarship opportunities in high schools through postdoctoral students, teachers and students in summer and throughout the year.(In most cases, students must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, although foreign nationals studying in American universities are eligible for limited programs.) Interns through NASA programs, university partners and JPL instructors sponsor research opportunities in laboratories, including technology, robotics, planetary science,Space engineering and astrophysics.
Museum Alliance
JPL founded the NASA Museum Alliance in 2003 to provide museums, planetariums, visitor centers and other types of informal educators with exhibition materials, professional development andMars probeInformation about the spirit and opportunities of the upcoming landing.[3]The Alliance now has more than 500 members who access NASA displays, models, educational seminars and networking opportunities through the program.Staff of educational organizations that meet the requirements of the Museum Alliance can register to participate in online meetings.[4]
The Museum Alliance is a subset of the informal education group of the JPL Education Office. It also serves after-school and summer courses, parents and other types of informal educators.
Education Resource Center
At the end of 2013,NASA/The JPL Education Resource Center is moving from the Indian Mountain Shopping Center in Pomona, California.Provide resources, materials and free seminars for formal and informal educators, covering science, technology, engineering and scientific topics related to NASA missions and science.
routine
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employee
About 5000 full-time employeesCalifornia Institute of TechnologyAnd thousands of other employeescontract formEmployees can work at designated time.in additionNASAAn office has also been set up here for government personnel to supervise the implementation of the contract between the laboratory and the government.There are also some Caltech students and interns.
Open Visit Day
The laboratory will have an open visit day at the weekend of May or June every year, when the public will be invited to visit the laboratory equipment and observe the on-site demonstration of the laboratory's science and technology.Personal visits are also feasible if they are properly arranged in advance.Thousands of students from southern California and elsewhere visit the laboratory every year.Open Day was cancelled because of the federal spending cuts imposed by budget cuts.JPL's open visit days in 2014 are October 11 and 12, and 2015 is October 10 and 11.[5]
Other work
In addition to the projects with the government, the Jet and Propulsion Laboratory also assists the film and television industry in its vicinity by providing regular advice on the accuracy of some of the science involved in the film, such as the science fiction film Babylon 5 and its follow-up series.
Source of funds
The Jet and Propulsion Laboratory is a government funded scientific research institution.It is composed ofCalifornia Institute of TechnologysufferNASAIs managed under the entrustment of.The scientific research projects carried out by the Jet and Propulsion Laboratory include the Galileo Jupiter exploration mission and the Mars walk mission (including themars pathfinder Mission and the Mars surface exploration mission in 2003).The Jet and Propulsion Laboratory has sent unmanned probes to every planet in our solar system.The Jet and Propulsion Laboratory also carried out the mission of accurate measurement of the Earth.It controls the global deep space exploration network, and these facilities are located inCaliforniaMojave Desert, SpainMadridNearby and in AustraliaCanberraNearby.
Past directors
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1938-1944 Dr. Theodore von Karman
1944-1946, Dr. Frank Malina
1946-1954 Dr. Louis Dunn
1954 to 1976, WilliamPickeringDr. William H. Pickering
