NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, will open its gates to the public for a rare two-day event on October 10-11. The "Explore JPL" event, free of charge, will allow visitors to experience firsthand the pioneering space technology developed at the facility, which has been largely inaccessible for the past three years.
During the event, attendees will have the opportunity to tour the Space Flight Operations Facility, a mission control center that has overseen significant space missions such as Mariner, Viking, Voyager, and Mars 2020. Visitors can also learn about advancements in robotics research, including designs for lunar explorers and search and rescue rovers. The lab's Microdevices Laboratory will offer a glimpse into how miniature technologies are shaping future space exploration. Full-scale models of spacecraft like the Perseverance Mars rover and Voyager will also be on display.
Established in 1936, JPL is celebrating its 90th anniversary. The laboratory played a crucial role in launching Explorer 1, the first successful U.S. artificial satellite in 1958, and has managed NASA's deep space network, a global system of antennas used for interplanetary spacecraft communication.
Tickets for the event are free but were reportedly in high demand and sold out quickly after the announcement. Organizers have stated that additional tickets will be released as cancellations occur, and interested individuals are encouraged to monitor availability in the coming weeks.
Separately, the JPL has been under federal scrutiny following a series of unexplained deaths and disappearances of scientists associated with the laboratory and other government research facilities. Among the reported cases are the murder of astrophysicist Carl Grillmair in February, the disappearance of former Materials Processing Group director Monica Reza in June of the previous year, the death of scientist Frank Maiwald in July 2024, and the death of Michael Hicks, who worked on NASA's Deep Space 1 Mission, in July 2023. Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker has suggested these incidents could be suspicious, potentially linked to foreign intelligence agencies seeking advanced technology.