Hubble Camera, Other Artifacts On Display

If you happen to be in Southern California this weekend, you might want to stop by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA for a close-up look at JPL's past, present and future. It's JPL's annual Open House being held on Saturday, May 15, and Sunday, May 16, from 0900 to 1700. The event, themed "Worlds Beyond," features displays and demonstrations from numerous space missions, and a first look at JPL's recently renovated von Karman Visitor Center.

On special display will be the JPL-built Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2, retrieved from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope last year by space-walking astronauts. The instrument, affectionately known as the "Camera that Saved Hubble," is on loan from the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum. The camera captured many of Hubble's iconic space images.

Other Open House highlights include: seeing JPL's next spacecraft bound for Mars, Mars Science Laboratory, under construction in the lab's largest "clean room;" life-size rover models in a "Mars" test bed; and JPL's Microdevices Lab, where engineers and scientists use tiny technology to revolutionize space exploration. Visitors can also see the sun through solar-safe telescopes, and learn how NASA instruments help scientists better understand global climate change.

Open House 2009

JPL Open House provides a memorable experience for adult and kids, with plenty of hands-on activities, and opportunities to talk with scientists and engineers.

JPL is located at 4800 Oak Grove Drive in Pasadena. Admission to Open House is free. Parking is also free, but is limited. Vehicles entering NASA/JPL property are subject to inspection. Visitors cannot bring these items to NASA/JPL: weapons, explosives, incendiary devices, dangerous instruments, alcohol, illegal drugs, pets, all types of skates including skateboards, Segways and bicycles. No bags, backpacks or ice chests are allowed, except small purses and diaper bags.

FMI: www.nasa.gov/jpl