NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory opens its gates on October 10 and 11 for Explore JPL, a public open-house event celebrating the institution's 90th anniversary. Located at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains in Pasadena, California, JPL invites visitors to tour its campus from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. PDT.
The event showcases four thematic exhibition areas. "Missions That Changed the World" highlights JPL's portfolio of spacecraft that revolutionized planetary science, Earth observation, and deep-space exploration. The "Moon to Mars" section focuses on JPL's role in NASA's Artemis program and plans for human exploration of the lunar surface and eventual Mars missions. Additional themed areas explore JPL's current and future initiatives, though the RSS excerpt cuts off before revealing complete details.
JPL, operated by Caltech under NASA contract, has spent nine decades developing robotic explorers including the Voyager probes, Mars rovers Curiosity and Perseverance, the James Webb Space Telescope operations, and the Juno orbiter studying Jupiter. The laboratory also manages Earth-observing satellites and develops propulsion systems critical to modern space exploration.
This public open house offers rare access to working laboratories and mission control facilities ordinarily closed to the public. Visitors encounter scientists, engineers, and mission specialists who explain the technical challenges behind spacecraft design, planetary science discoveries, and the instrumentation driving exploration today. The event typically draws thousands of space enthusiasts, students, and families interested in NASA's work.
JPL's 90-year legacy spans from its founding in 1936 as a rocket research laboratory to its current role as one of the world's premier centers for unmanned space exploration. The two-day celebration provides tangible connection between the public and the engineers and scientists whose work extends