JPL's Rose Parade float highlights 50 years of space exploration. Image credit: NASA/JPL
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December 27, 2007
Volunteers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., are helping with
the finishing touches on the Lab's Rose Parade float saluting "50 Years of Space
Exploration." A half-century ago, on Jan. 31, 1958, JPL's Explorer 1 became America's
first satellite to reach Earth orbit, launching our nation into the space age.
"In January 2008 we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Explorer 1, the first American
satellite, which was built at JPL. This is a historic milestone not only for the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech and Pasadena, but for the country," said Charles Elachi,
director of JPL. "I can think of nothing better than kicking off the celebration with
a float in the ultimate New Year's pageant, the Rose Parade." JPL is managed for NASA
by the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.
More information on the Explorer 1 anniversary, including a video chronicling its history,
is available at: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/explorer/ .
On the parade float, Explorer 1 fires off the launch pad at the center. In its
wake arises a collection of historic JPL robotic explorers, as well as planetary ports
of call. On one of the solar panels displays a floral "photographic" representation of
the Explorer pioneers whose vision ignited the spark for U.S. space exploration -- William
Pickering, then director of JPL, scientist James Van Allen and rocket designer Wernher
von Braun. Ascending from Explorer's fiery plume are a Martian orbiter and a six-wheeled
Mars Science Laboratory, which in 2010 will carry on the tradition of NASA/JPL robotic
exploration. On the other edge of the plume, climbing beyond the garland of rings surrounding
the planet Saturn is JPL's Voyager 1 - humanity's most distant emissary - which is now
on its journey headed into interstellar space.
The 25-foot-tall float is jacketed by everything from black seaweed, eucalyptus leaves,
split pea and ground walnut shells to daisies, roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, carnations,
strawflower and cut everlasting.
The successful launch of Explorer 1 marked the beginning of a half-century of space
exploration. By late 1958, JPL was transferred to the newly created National Aeronautics and
Space Administration. JPL manages 19 spacecraft and six instruments that are currently exploring
our home planet, our solar system and the larger universe. At Mars alone, NASA/JPL has four
spacecraft explorers. In May 2008, that number will increase by one when the Phoenix lander attempts
a dramatic touchdown near the Martian north pole. Other recent JPL missions include understanding
the Earth's oceans and atmosphere (Jason), penetrating deep into a comet (Deep Impact), visiting
asteroids (Dawn), exploring the rings of Saturn and its moons (Cassini), and peering into the
distant edge of the universe (Spitzer Space Telescope and Galaxy Evolution Explorer).
For more information about JPL on the Internet, visit http://www.jpl.nasa.gov .
NOTE TO MEDIA: Reporters interested in covering JPL personnel working on the float are invited
to stop by on Friday, Dec. 28, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Pacific time. Location: Rosemont Pavilion,
700 Seco St., Pasadena. In addition, a related video file of float preparations is airing on NASA-TV,
with scheduling information online at http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html .
Media contacts: DC Agle 818-393-9011
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
agle@jpl.nasa.gov
Dwayne Brown 202-358-1726
NASA Headquarters, Washington
dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov
2007-153
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