Dr. Carlos Soares Lecture on JPL MissionsThe IEEE YP Germany AG supported the Carlos Soares (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory) lecture on JPL Missions and the Evolution of Contamination Control as a Multi-Disciplinary Physics-Based Discipline. The event took place on February 10th, 2020 at the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen in Gießen, Germany. Approximate 100 attendees visited the lecture of Dr. Soares from JPL.

The JPL builds and controls satellites and space probes for NASA and is part of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The most successful NASA spacecraft projects were carried out under the leadership of the JPL. Current NASA missions (e.g. Mars 2020 and Europa Clipper).

Dr. Soares reported on various missions that NASA JPL is currently working on. These include various concepts for Mars missions, as well as concepts for missions to ice moons from Jupiter and Saturn (Europe, Enceladus). Impressive pictures from space and simulations for space probes inspired the audience of students and professors.

Finally, Mr. Soares gave a brief overview of the different departments of the JPL and told about the local possibilities and requirements for student research projects. Professors and students then had the opportunity to ask questions and to exchange ideas with Mr. Soares in person.