All articles tagged with #jet propulsion laboratory
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is laying off approximately 550 employees, about 10% of its workforce, as part of a strategic realignment to focus on core capabilities and fiscal discipline, amidst ongoing budget uncertainties and broader government workforce reductions.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory plans to lay off about 550 employees as part of a restructuring effort to streamline operations and focus on core capabilities, unrelated to the government shutdown, affecting its workforce of around 5,500 in Pasadena, California.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is tracking five asteroids set to pass Earth on December 9, 2024. Despite their large sizes, ranging from 32 to 210 feet wide, none of these asteroids pose a threat to the planet as they will pass at safe distances, the closest being 433,000 miles away. This event provides a valuable opportunity for scientific observation and highlights the importance of ongoing space monitoring.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California is laying off 325 employees, about 5% of its workforce, due to budget constraints. This follows a previous layoff of 530 employees earlier this year. The cuts are part of a broader effort to align with reduced funding, including a significant decrease in the budget for the Mars Sample Return mission. Despite generating substantial economic output, NASA has faced budget reductions, impacting projects like the VIPER rover mission to the Moon.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is laying off approximately 325 employees, about 5% of its workforce, due to budget cuts and technical issues affecting its Mars Sample Return program.
NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft, launched in 1977, is showing signs of improvement after experiencing communication issues. The spacecraft, which has been operating for 46 years, has been transmitting gibberish due to a likely issue in its flight data system. The Voyager team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is working to restore communication and is "extremely hopeful" after recent promising signs. The team faces unique challenges due to the spacecraft's distance from Earth and the dwindling number of engineers and programmers who worked on the mission. The Voyager probes, carrying golden records with Earth's music and culture, represent a significant achievement in space exploration and may outlive humanity.
MiMi Aung, a manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, made the bold decision to lead the development of a small helicopter, Ingenuity, intended to fly on Mars. Despite facing opposition and funding challenges, Aung and her team persevered, ultimately succeeding in getting Ingenuity to Mars as part of the Perseverance rover mission. This is the inside story of how Aung and a few champions of flying on Mars ultimately prevailed, showcasing the determination and innovation behind the creation of Ingenuity.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory laid off 530 employees and 40 contractors due to anticipated budget cuts, affecting about 8% of its workforce, as the agency prepares for potential funding reductions for the Mars Sample Return mission. California lawmakers have protested the cuts, emphasizing the impact on local workers and the setback to scientific and space leadership. The mission, a joint effort with the European Space Agency, has faced delays and cost overruns, prompting an independent review, with recommendations expected in March or April.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California is laying off around 530 employees and 40 contractors, amounting to eight percent of the facility's workforce, due to budget uncertainty and the absence of an FY24 appropriation from Congress. The cuts are a result of the agency's need to adjust to a lower budget and protect against deeper cuts later. The uncertainty over the final budget allocation for the Mars Sample Return mission, which is expected to receive around $300 million, has played a major factor in the layoffs, despite the mission's success so far with the Perseverance rover uncovering soil samples containing evidence of organic matter on Mars.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California is laying off 530 workers and 40 contractors due to a lack of federal funding, representing about 8% of its workforce, as it awaits funding for the Mars Sample Return mission. The lab had already implemented cost-cutting measures, including a hiring freeze and reduced contracts, but the layoffs became necessary to adhere to budget constraints. Employees impacted by the layoffs will receive base pay and benefits for 60 days, as well as severance packages and transitional benefits. U.S. Rep. Judy Chu is working to reverse the budget cuts and restore funding to support scientific discovery at JPL.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena is cutting 8% of its workforce, affecting 530 employees and approximately 40 contractors, due to uncertainty about its federal funding. The lab has not yet received approval for its 2024 fiscal year budget, including the $300 million planned for its Mars Sample Return Project. The layoffs are described as painful but necessary adjustments to adhere to budget allocation while continuing important work for NASA and the nation.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which plays a key role in Mars exploration, has cut hundreds of jobs due to a pause in the Mars Sample Return program caused by congressional gridlock over NASA's budget. Lawmakers, including Rep. Judy Chu and Sen. Alex Padilla, are urging the Biden administration to restore funding and prevent further job cuts, expressing concerns that the program could be canceled without congressional authorization. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated that an independent review board is assessing the future of the sample return program, which aims to bring Martian rocks and dust back to Earth for analysis.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is laying off about 8% of its workforce, affecting roughly 530 employees and 40 contractors due to budgetary issues. The cuts are necessary to adhere to budget allocations while continuing important work for NASA and the nation. JPL, managed by Caltech, leads many of NASA's major science projects, including the Mars sample return campaign, which has faced budget concerns. Despite the layoffs, JPL will continue to contribute to upcoming NASA missions such as Europa Clipper and the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar.
Over 40 members of Congress from California have urged the White House to reverse NASA's cuts to the Mars Sample Return (MSR) program, citing potential job losses and a decade of lost science. The funding reductions, prompted by differences in spending bills, have already led to layoffs at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the lead center for MSR. The letter highlights concerns about the impact of reduced funding on meeting launch windows and fulfilling contracts, while also noting ongoing efforts to reassess the MSR architecture to address concerns about schedule and budget.
Engineer Chris Lewicki recounts a testing mistake that nearly destroyed the Spirit Mars Rover before its launch in 2003. While verifying the integrity of the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT), Lewicki accidentally sent a surge of electricity into the spacecraft instead of the motor, causing all telemetry to cease. With only two weeks until launch, the team managed to restore power and the mission was a success. Lewicki went on to have a successful career and became the flight director for the mission.