It takes a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience to explore planets, study galaxies and monitor Earth from space. Here are just a few examples of our scientists and engineers:

• Planetary geologists study the terrain of other planets through images and   science instruments. They also study rocks and terrain here on Earth.

• Vulcanologists study volcanoes on Earth, other planets and moons. Jupiter’s moon Io is the most volcanically active body in the solar system.

• Software engineers program computers so spacecraft will follow our instructions.

• Mechanical engineers think about how the spacecraft and instruments will work as a whole system and they help build them with that in mind.

Careers at NASA and JPL, however, are not only for scientists and engineers.

• Business people help plan and pay for projects.

• Animators, writers and Web developers illustrate and explain what our missions do.

• Educators teach science and math ideas and activities to teachers and students.

The jobs are as creative as the mission of space exploration.