Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a NASA research center managed by Caltech at 4800 Oak Grove Drive, near Pasadena. Its public tours bring space exploration down to earth: you can see spacecraft models, look into the facility where spacecraft are assembled, and visit the room that monitors Deep Space Network missions. The guided visit also explains JPL’s work and history. Tours take place on weekdays and require advance booking, so check availability and entry requirements before planning your trip.
A working center for robotic spaceflight
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory began in Pasadena in the 1930s, when Caltech researchers and rocket enthusiasts started experimenting with rocket motors. JPL’s early work focused on aviation and rocketry. It began collaborating with NASA after the agency was founded in 1958, and Caltech manages the laboratory for NASA.
Today, JPL builds and operates robotic spacecraft. Its work includes missions that explore planets and other bodies in the solar system, as well as projects in astronomy and Earth science. Curiosity and Perseverance are among the Mars rovers associated with the lab. The Voyager and Cassini missions are also part of its history. Their spacecraft models help connect the facility’s research to the missions visitors may already know.
What the tour includes
The guided tour moves through several parts of the campus and explains JPL’s projects and scientific work. A presentation introduces the laboratory before the group visits the visitor center, where spacecraft models include Explorer 1, Voyager and Cassini. Displays also include an aerogel cube.
A stop at the high bay gives visitors a view of the clean room where spacecraft are assembled. The tour also goes to the Mission Control room, where the Deep Space Network is monitored. The network has sites at Goldstone, Madrid and Canberra to receive data from missions beyond the Moon’s orbit. The control room has been seen in broadcasts during rover missions, including footage of mission teams celebrating.
Booking and entry
Tours are offered to the public on weekdays and must be booked in advance. Check JPL’s tour information before choosing travel dates, as tours have limited availability. A tour typically takes about two and a half hours, and groups can be large; if a particular stop matters to you, keep in mind that the schedule may leave limited time there.
Bring an accepted identity document for entry: a passport, REAL ID or foreign passport. A regular driver’s license and a NEXUS card are not accepted. JPL is at 4800 Oak Grove Drive. Free parking is available on site, and the entrance and parking are wheelchair accessible.
Preguntas frecuentes
Do you need to book a Jet Propulsion Laboratory tour?
Yes. Public tours require advance booking and take place on weekdays. Check JPL’s tour information before planning your visit.
What ID do you need to enter JPL?
Bring a passport, REAL ID or foreign passport. Regular driver’s licenses and NEXUS cards are not accepted.
How long does a JPL tour take?
A typical guided tour takes about two and a half hours.
What can you see on a JPL tour?
The tour includes spacecraft models, a view into the spacecraft assembly clean room and the Mission Control room where the Deep Space Network is monitored.
