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 Aerial view of JPL | |
| Established | October 31, 1936; 89 years ago (1936-10-31) |
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Field of research | |
| Address | 4800 Oak Grove Drive |
| Location | La Cañada Flintridge,California,United States 34°12′6.1″N118°10′18″W / 34.201694°N 118.17167°W /34.201694; -118.17167 |
Parent department | Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
Operating agency | Managed forNASA byCaltech |
| Website | science |
| Map | |
  Location in California Show map of California JPL Science Division (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| JPL Science Division | |
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| Division overview | |
| Division executives | |
TheJet Propulsion Laboratory Science Division investigatesphysical andchemical processes on the Earth, in theSolar System, and throughout the universe. Explorations of space and terrestrial processes lead to understanding of the universe. Methods for accomplishingscientific work pertaining to the nature of the Earth, the Solar System, the galaxy, etc., are addressed in the JPL Science Division. Techniques in both physical andlife sciences are utilized.[3]
Research areas include studying the nature of theMartian surface, the causes and mitigation ofozone depletion andglobal warming inEarth's atmosphere, the search for life in and the nature andevolution of the universe. These are significant issues related to NASA's mission.[3]
Theoretical andexperimental studies are conducted which lead to new missions. They are engaged in the development of new instrumentation and in the analysis of data, publishing new scientific knowledge, and in the communication of that knowledge to the general public.[3]
Not all science at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory is contained within the Science Division. Approximately 30% of JPL scientists are embedded in other divisions.[3]
JPL's charter is to conduct robotic space missions forNASA, to explore planetary systems, understand the origin and evolution of the universe and make critical measurements to understand the Earth, which leads to its protection.[4] This is accomplished by developingmultidisciplinary capabilities inengineering, science andtechnology. Research inspace science, as well as advancing technologies, produces the ability to implement missions for NASA.[4]
The division's science, technology and engineering research covers many areas of planetary, astrophysics and Earth science, both as basic research leading to new observations and mission concepts, as well as research based on the data acquired by JPL flight projects.[4] Technology research covers areas ranging from robotic systems, a range of in-situ andremote sensing instruments, deep space communications and navigation, information systems, precision flying and planetary protection and survivability.[4]
JPL has developed a number of capabilities to perform novel tasks withtelerobotic andautonomous robotic technologies. For example, the JPL engineering team developed the Limbed Excursion Mechanical Utility Robot (LEMUR) to scale rock walls. It uses many hundreds of "tiny fishhooks in each of it 16 fingers"[5] and employsartificial intelligence to work its way around obstacles in its path. LEMUR didfield testing inDeath Valley, California in early 2019,climbing "a route up a cliff while scanning the rock for ancient fossils from the sea that once filled the area."[5]
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