Authorities Cite Sequester As Reason For Cutting The Event

The announcement came in the form of a terse statement on the "Events" page of the JPL website. "Due to budget restrictions, plans for a JPL Open House in spring 2013 have been suspended. If budget considerations improve, JPL hopes to host an Open House at a future date, perhaps as early as fall 2013. Please check back here for updates."

The cancellation, according to Case Drier of The Planetary Society, is part of NASA's strategy for offsetting spending cuts under the sequester, according to a report from KNX Radio and KCBS television.

The event normally draws about 30,000 people each year, and has been called a source of inspiration for kids to get involved in planetary sciences. Drier, an outreach and advocacy strategist for the Planetary Society, said that cutting the open house was a "difficult choice," but if it came down to cutting or delaying a mission or cutting outreach activities, "it's gonna be probably outreach activities that are gonna go."

The event had been scheduled for June 8-9.

The facility still offers free lectures and public tours, but the tour schedule is currently full. JPL says on its website that the earliest a tour could be booked is September of this year. Those reservations will open May 20th.

(Image courtesy NASA JPL)

FMI: www.jpl.nasa.gov