10/05/2026
October is a special month for the Caltech community. Across campus and at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which Caltech manages for NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, October marks a series of anniversaries that reflect decades of discovery, research, and innovation across disciplines.
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory marks 90 years of exploration and achievement, tracing its origins to a group of young rocket enthusiasts and graduate students who conducted a series of tests in the Arroyo Seco.
The Ronald and Maxine Linde Institute of Economic and Management Sciences celebrates 15 years as Caltech’s hub for interdisciplinary research and education in the social sciences.
And the Kavli Nanoscience Institute (KNI) marks the 10th anniversary of the KNI-Wheatley Scholar in Nanoscience award, made possible through the generosity of Chuck (BS ’56) and Judy Wheatley, which enables junior faculty to pursue novel research ideas.
Together, these milestones recognize Caltech’s enduring contributions across science, engineering, and the social sciences, as well as the generations of researchers who have continued to push the boundaries of discovery.
Photos courtesy of the Caltech Archives and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.