Alexei Kitaev, professor of theoretical physics, computer science, and mathematics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), has been named an inaugural winner of the Fundamental Physics Prize—a $3 million award that represents the largest academi... More »
This graphical timeline shows the launch dates of the more than 100 missions that JPL has either managed or participated in since 1958 — and has planned through 2019. JPL is inviting members of the public to submit their own space and mission-themed visualizat... More »
[Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech] Over the past several years, the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft—from the heat shield to the rover to the supersonic parachute—has gone through extensive and painstaking testing. This Sunday, it will endure its most arduous test y... More »
[Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech] After years of planning and months of travel, the journey of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) will culminate with a challenging entry, descent, and landing event on August 5 that will take just a few minutes to complete. But for tho... More »
This artist’s concept features NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover, a mobile robot for investigating Mars’ past or present ability to sustain microbial life. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech The public is invited to tune in for a series of news brie... More »
Since launching in November 2011, NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) has been traveling full steam ahead on a journey that will traverse over 350 million miles, ending on the Red Planet at 10:31 p.m. on Sunday, August 5. Tucked into a spacecraft for safekeep... More »
[Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech; After journeying more than 340 million miles over the course of eight months, NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)—the most capable robotic mission ever sent to the Red Planet—is quickly approaching its destination. The spacecraft is... More »
Chiara Daraio, professor of aeronautics and applied physics, and Christopher Hirata, professor of astrophysics, both at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and Ian Clark of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)—which is managed by Caltech—are wi... More »
New research shows that levels of carbon monoxide dropped sharply in the Beijing area between 2007 and 2008, due to traffic restrictions imposed because of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Image credit: UCAR. Illustration by Lex Ivey, based on NCAR data. A new NASA-f... More »
NASA’s Mars Odyssey spacecraft passes above Mars’ south pole in this artist’s concept. The spacecraft has been orbiting Mars since October 24, 2001. Image credit: NASA/JPL NASA’s Mars Odyssey spacecraft has successfully adjusted its orbital location to be in a... More »
Sally Ride, the first American woman in space and a former Caltech trustee, passed away Monday, July 23, 2012. She was 61. Ride joined NASA in 1978 as part of the first astronaut class to admit women. In 1983, she made history as the first female astronaut a... More »
Chiara Daraio, professor of aeronautics and applied physics, and Christopher Hirata, professor of astrophysics, at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), are 2012 winners of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. This is t... More »
