Editing Jet Propulsion Laboratory (section)

=== 2020s and beyond ===
As JPL moves forward, its focus remains on diverse interplanetary and even interstellar missions. Future Mars missions will aim to return the samples collected by the Perseverance rover back to Earth.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Czaja |first1=Andrew |last2=Benison |first2=Kathleen |last3=Bosak |first3=Tanja |last4=Cohen |first4=Barbara A. |last5=Hausrath |first5=Elisabeth M. |last6=Hickman-Lewis |first6=Keyron |last7=Mayhew |first7=Lisa E. |last8=Shuster |first8=David L. |last9=Siljeström |first9=Sandra |last10=Simon |first10=Justin I. |last11=Weiss |first11=Benjamin P. |title=Samples and Notional Caches from Jezero Crater and Beyond for Mars Sample Return |date=2021 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/abs/2021am-367976 |journal=Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs |publisher=Geological Society of America |doi=10.1130/abs/2021am-367976 |s2cid=240134541 |access-date=August 5, 2023 |archive-date=May 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523065238/https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2021AM/webprogram/Paper367976.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, JPL's ''[[Europa Clipper]]'' mission launched in 2024 to study Jupiter's moon [[Europa (moon)|Europa]], believed to harbor a subsurface ocean.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NASA's Europa Clipper |url=https://europa.nasa.gov/ |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=NASA's Europa Clipper |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404000842/https://europa.nasa.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Building on the Voyager program's success, JPL continues to push the boundaries of deep-space exploration. The [[Interstellar probe|Interstellar Probe]] concept, though not yet formalized, proposes to send a spacecraft ten times the distance from the Sun as Pluto, to explore the interstellar medium and the outermost reaches of the [[Solar System]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mewaldt |first1=R. |last2=Liewer |first2=P. |date=2000-08-22 |title=An interstellar probe mission to the boundaries of the heliosphere and nearby interstellar space |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2000-5173 |journal=Space 2000 Conference and Exposition |location=Reston, Virginia |publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics |doi=10.2514/6.2000-5173 |access-date=August 5, 2023 |archive-date=May 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523065742/https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2000-5173 |url-status=live }}</ref>

JPL has been recognized four times by the [[Space Foundation]]: with the Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award, which is given annually to an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to public awareness of space programs, in 1998; and with the John L. "Jack" Swigert, Jr., Award for Space Exploration on three occasions – in 2009 (as part of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander Team<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.spacefoundation.org/2009/02/19/the-phoenix-mars-lander-team-wins-2009-jack-swigert-award-for-space-exploration/ |title=The Phoenix Mars Lander Team Wins 2009 Jack Swigert Award for Space Exploration |date=February 19, 2009 |access-date=December 5, 2022 |publisher=The Space Foundation |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205194102/https://www.spacefoundation.org/2009/02/19/the-phoenix-mars-lander-team-wins-2009-jack-swigert-award-for-space-exploration/ |url-status=live }}</ref>), 2006 and 2005.

In January 2025, JPL was closed and evacuated due to the [[Eaton Fire]] raging in the nearby towns of [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]] and [[Altadena, California|Altadena]], with operations like the DSN getting relocated offsite.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Mike Wall |date=January 8, 2025 |title=NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab closed due to raging LA fires |url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/nasas-jet-propulsion-lab-closed-due-to-raging-la-fires |access-date=January 10, 2025 |website=Space.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 9, 2025 |title=NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory evacuated due to LA wildfire |url=https://spacenews.com/nasa-jet-propulsion-laboratory-evacuated-due-to-la-wildfire/ |access-date=January 10, 2025 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref> Although the facility has not sustained damage from the wildfires, it has experienced minor wind damage and as well as numerous employees losing their homes.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1877033688539468061 |user=LaurieofMars |title=JPL is closed except for emergency personnel. No fire damage so far (some wind damage) but it is very close to the lab. Hundreds of JPLers have been evacuated from their homes & many have lost homes. Special thx to our emergency crews. Pls keep us in your thoughts & stay safe. |first=Laurie |last=Leshin |date=January 8, 2025 |access-date=January 10, 2025}}</ref>