JPL To Mark 90th Year With New Deep Space Missions
The laboratory will expand its robotic capabilities with multi-vehicle satellite and drone missions scheduled through 2028.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Space
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As the Jet Propulsion Laboratory approaches its 90th anniversary on October 31, 2026, the NASA-managed facility prepares for future deep space exploration. Managed by Caltech, the lab has evolved from 1936 rocket-propulsion tests to managing current missions like Voyager 1.
Why it matters
The lab's continued operation represents a central hub for U.S. space exploration, bridging foundational rocket research with modern autonomous missions. Its upcoming 90-year milestone highlights a trajectory shift toward complex multi-vehicle deployments in planetary environments.
JPL manages mission hardware such as the 16-billion-mile-distant Voyager 1 and is developing new assets, including a three-helicopter configuration for the 2028 SkyFall mission and a six-satellite constellation for the 2027 SunRISE project.
The players
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
A NASA-funded research center managed by Caltech that designs and operates robotic spacecraft and instruments.
Caltech
A private research university that manages the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA.
Dave Gallagher
The current director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory who has served in the role since 2025.
NASA
The United States federal agency responsible for the civilian space program, aeronautics, and space research.
The details
JPL develops specialized sensors and instruments within its Microdevices Laboratory to support missions aiming to understand the universe and human spaceflight safety. The facility utilizes a range of specialized engineering frameworks, originating from its early propulsion tests in the Arroyo Seco region of Pasadena. These capabilities underpin its current mission architecture, including the planned MoonFall drone deployment at the lunar South Pole.
Timeline
October 31, 1936: JPL began its rocket propulsion tests in Pasadena.
1958: JPL launched the Explorer 1 satellite.
1964: The lab launched the first U.S. mission to the Moon.
November 18, 2026: Voyager 1 is projected to reach 16 billion miles from Earth.
2028: Planned launch of the SkyFall and MoonFall missions.
The Tech Race
JPL maintains its position as the premier U.S. developer of planetary exploration assets by transitioning from legacy spacecraft to multi-agent drone systems. Its roadmap competes against evolving international lunar exploration initiatives at the Moon's South Pole.
The lab's research into space exploration safety and instrumentation directly informs future aerospace industry standards. Industry stakeholders and science enthusiasts can monitor the upcoming 2027 and 2028 mission launches for updates on robotic autonomous technology.
The takeaway
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory continues to evolve its technical capabilities toward complex autonomous swarm systems for planetary exploration. Watch for the 2028 MoonFall mission milestones, which will demonstrate the feasibility of multi-drone deployment in polar lunar conditions.
Further reading
For more on the latest research and mission developments, visit our coverage of Space.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NASA.
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