John Grotzinger, chair of the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences at Caltech, expressed excitement about Jonathan Lunine joining the faculty. Lunine has extensive experience in planetary science and his work has covered diverse scientific questions across the solar system and extending to exoplanets. His addition to the faculty brings a valuable perspective and expertise to the Caltech community.
Lunine’s background in planetary science includes serving on the science working group for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and contributing to concept studies for solar system and exoplanet characterization missions. He is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences, where he has chaired and co-chaired numerous advisory and strategic planning committees for the Academy, NASA, and the National Science Foundation.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at Caltech in Pasadena, California, has a rich history dating back to 1936. JPL played a pivotal role in building and launching Explorer 1, America’s first satellite, in 1958. Following the establishment of NASA by Congress later that year, JPL became part of the agency and has since managed numerous historic missions, including Voyager, Galileo, Cassini, the Mars Exploration Rover program, and the Perseverance Mars rover. With Lunine joining their faculty, JPL continues to bring innovative solutions to complex scientific challenges with its unique blend of interdisciplinary research teams from across campus collaborating with mission experts around the world.
