NASA's JPL Untouched by Flames, But Staff Face Challenges

Fire raged through Los Angeles County in January, with an airborne imaging spectrometer from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) documenting the damage. The device captured images of charred hillsides and destroyed neighborhoods, including the 170-acre JPL campus, which amazingly remained unharmed. The real devastation, however, was among the workforce. Around 20% of JPL’s 5, 500 employees were evacuated, and about 210 lost their homes. Director Laurie Leshin noted that many more employees are still unable to return home due to ongoing evacuation orders. Despite the crisis, JPL staff managed to keep the institution running. Many employed emergency training strategies, some for the first time. The Deep Space Network, a global array of antennas communicating with spacecraft, continued to operate without interruption. Staff, even those under evacuation orders, temporarily relocated network control to the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex without losing any data. The director praised the team's dedication, emphasizing that JPL's mission of exploration will continue regardless of obstacles. The fires followed a difficult year, with budget cuts leading to significant layoffs. A disaster relief fund has since raised over $2 million for affected staff, faculty, and students. The main cleanup tasks at JPL involve repairing wind damage, such as fixing roofs and clearing downed branches. The buildings will reopen to staff next week, though remote work is encouraged for those able. Leshin expressed gratitude for the support from the space community and underscored that exploration will persist.