NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Skip Navigation menu and search ABOUT JPL | Executive Council History Annual Reports Contact Us Opportunities About JPL The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a unique national research facility that carries out robotic space and Earth science missions. JPL helped open the Space Age by developing America's first Earth-orbiting science satellite, creating the first successful interplanetary spacecraft, and sending robotic missions to study all the planets in the solar system as well as asteroids, comets and Earth's moon. In addition to its missions, JPL developed and manages NASA's Deep Space Network, a worldwide system of antennas that communicates with interplanetary spacecraft. JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech. From the long history of leaders drawn from the university's faculty to joint programs and appointments, JPL's intellectual environment and identity are profoundly shaped by its role as part of Caltech. Today JPL continues its world-leading innovation, implementing programs in planetary exploration, Earth science, space-based astronomy and technology development, while applying its capabilities to technical and scientific problems of national significance. JPL technology developed to enable new missions is also applied on Earth to benefit our everyday lives. Related Links › Dr. Michael Watkins › JPL Fact Sheet (PDF) › Caltech › JPL Executive Council › History & Archives › JPL Library › 50th anniversary interactive infographic › Vintage JPL on Flickr › Annual Reports › Directions and Maps Get the Newsletter Follow JPL All About JPL About JPL Executive Council History Annual Reports Contact Us Opportunities Doing Business with JPL Missions Current Past Future Proposed All Galleries JPL Space Images Videos Infographics Photojournal NASA Images Mobile Apps Education Intern Learn Teach News Events News Latest News Press Kits Fact Sheets Media Information Universe Newspaper Public Events Overview Tours Lecture Series Speakers Bureau Team Competitions Special Events Our Sites Asteroid Watch Cassini - Mission to Saturn Earth / Global Climate Change Exoplanet Exploration Juno - Mission to Jupiter Mars Exploration Mars Science Laboratory / Curiosity Rosetta - Understanding Comets Science and Technology Solar System Exploration Eyes on the Solar System Eyes on the Earth Eyes on Exoplanets Spitzer Space Telescope Follow JPL Newsletter Facebook Twitter YouTube Flickr Instagram iTunes UStream RSS Blog Mobile All Social Media NASA NASA Water Cleanup FOIA NASA | CALTECH | PRIVACY | IMAGE POLICY | FAQ | FEEDBACK Site Manager: Jon Nelson Webmasters: Tony Greicius, Martin Perez, Luis Espinoza