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Longtime JPL Engineer Jakob van Zyl Dies at 63

Published on Monday, August 31, 2020 | 1:51 pm
 
Longtime NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineer Jakob van Zyl

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory community is mourning the loss of Jakob van Zyl, a longtime leader in efforts to explore the solar system who died last week following a heart attack, according to the institution. He was 63.

Van Zyl died Wednesday, two days after suffering a heart attack, according to a statement from JPL. He retired from JPL in March, capping off a career that spanned 33 years.

He made an indelible mark on the institution, according to JPL Director Michael Watkins.

“JPL and NASA are richer for his many technical and managerial contributions, and for his unwavering dedication and engaging personality,” Watkins said.

After joining JPL in 1986, van Zyl went on to serve in roles including director for astronomy and physics, director for solar system exploration, and associate director for project formulation and strategy, “a role in which he helped formulate a future vision for JPL,” according to the memo.

He had a hand in many of the significant scientific discoveries JPL has made over the past three decades.

“As leader of solar system exploration, he oversaw successful operations of such missions as Juno to Jupiter, Dawn to the asteroid belt, and Cassini to Saturn, and had key roles in implementing the InSight Mars lander, and MarCo — tiny CubeSat spacecraft that accompanied InSight to Mars,” the statement said.

“Other roles included overseeing ongoing development of such future missions as Europa Clipper to explore one of Jupiter’s intriguing moons; the Psyche asteroid mission; and all of JPL’s instruments and the Mars Helicopter for Mars 2020 Perseverance, which is en route to the Red Planet and will land in February 2021,” according to the statement.

Van Zyn also garnered worldwide attention through his early work in the Earth sciences, colleagues said.

He was born in Namibia and received his degree in electronics engineering from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, according to JPL. He went on to earn his master’s and doctorate degrees in electrical engineering from Caltech.

President of Namibia Hage Geingob was quoted in the nation’s primary newspaper, The Namibian, mourning the scientist.

“The passing of Dr. Japie van Zyl has robbed our nation of an outstanding scientist whose contributions in space research advanced our understanding of the universe,” he told the newspaper. “My exchanges with the highly affable Dr. van Zyl during his visits to the country of his birth were always pleasant and illuminating,” he said.

Following his retirement from JPL, van Zyl went on to serve as Principal for Physical Sciences at Kairos Ventures.

He enjoyed running, rugby, and travel, colleagues said.

“He was passionate about sharing the excitement of space exploration with young people in Namibia and South Africa, encouraging them to pursue science and related fields,” the JPL statement said. “He traveled to those areas to host presentations on the solar system and universe, and offered similar presentations for students via Skype.”

Van Zyl is survived by his wife, brother, sister, brother-in-law, and their families.

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