JPL Logo

Explore JPL Returns in 2026!

Get ready to experience the excitement of space exploration up close! As NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory marks 90 years of discovery and innovation, we’re thrilled to welcome the public back for Explore JPL on October 10–11, 2026.

This free, immersive event offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the groundbreaking science and engineering driving NASA’s missions across our Solar System and beyond.

This year, guests will have the chance to visit JPL’s most iconic facilities and explore four thematic areas: Missions That Changed the World, Moon to Mars, In Flight, and Makerspace.

Discover JPL’s Machine Shop, where precision spacecraft components are crafted.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Event Highlights

  • The Center of the Universe: Visit JPL’s legendary Space Flight Operations Facility, a National Historic Landmark where engineers track commands and receive data from spacecraft billions of miles away.
  • Witness the Future Being Built: Discover the Spacecraft Assembly Facility and JPL Machine Shop, where precision spacecraft components are crafted.
  • Meet the Robots: See the latest cutting-edge innovations in robotics research, from autonomous lunar explorers to search and rescue rovers.
  • Stand with Giants: Get up close with our full-scale models of the Mars  Perseverance rover, Voyager, and Galileo.
  • Small Wonders: Step inside the Microdevices Laboratory to see how miniature technologies are shaping the future of exploration.
  • And so much more!

Get up close with full-scale models, including the Mars Perseverance Rover.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Mark Your Calendars – Ticket Details

Admission is free, but tickets are required and availability is extremely limited.

Timed-entry ticket registration will open on this webpage at 9 a.m. PDT on Saturday, August 29, 2026. Based on previous years, tickets are expected to be fully reserved within 10–15 minutes.

  • Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of five tickets per reservation.
  • Names for all attendees must be entered at the time of registration.
  • Tickets are non-transferable, may not be sold, and duplicate names will result in automatic cancellation.
  • Children ages two and under do not require a ticket; all other guests must have a valid ticket for entry.

Bookmark this page and check back regularly for event updates. We can't wait to explore with you!