Caltech could lose control of JPL for first time in decades
Key takeaways
- The contract for management and operation of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will be opened up to a competitive bidding process for the first time in its history, the space agency announced on Friday.
- The action forces Caltech to compete for control of the La Cañada Flintridge institution it has managed since NASA’s inception in 1958.
- “The rapid growth of the U.S. space economy indicates there may now be a viable competitive market for programmatic and institutional elements,” NASA said in a statement.
The contract for management and operation of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will be opened up to a competitive bidding process for the first time in its history, the space agency announced. (David Mc New/Getty Images) By Corinne Purtill Staff Writer Follow May 22, 2026 4:53 PM PT 2 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
The contract for management and operation of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will be opened up to a competitive bidding process for the first time in its history, the space agency announced on Friday.
The action forces Caltech to compete for control of the La Cañada Flintridge institution it has managed since NASA’s inception in 1958.