NASA Unit JPL To Lay Off About 550 Workers, Citing Restructure (cnbc.com)
- Reference: 0179774562
- News link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/10/14/0133211/nasa-unit-jpl-to-lay-off-about-550-workers-citing-restructure
- Source link: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/13/nasa-jpl-layoffs.html
> JPL is a research and development lab funded by NASA -- the federal space agency -- and managed by the California Institute of Technology. "While not easy, I believe that taking these actions now will help the Lab transform at the scale and pace necessary to help achieve humanity's boldest ambitions in space," Gallagher wrote in a separate mekor to JPL employees and contractors. Gallagher, in the public announcement, noted that the reorganization of JPL began in July, and "over the past few months, we have communicated openly with employees about the challenges and hard choices ahead."
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> "This week's action, while not easy, is essential to securing JPL's future by creating a leaner infrastructure, focusing on our core technical capabilities, maintaining fiscal discipline, and positioning us to compete in the evolving space ecosystem -- all while continuing to deliver on our vital work for NASA and the nation," Gallagher wrote. Gallagher said that JPL employees will be notified of their status on Tuesday, and the "new Lab structure ... will become effective Wednesday."
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/13/nasa-jpl-layoffs.html
Mekor? What the heck is a mekor? (Score:2)
> "While not easy, I believe that taking these actions now will help the Lab transform at the scale and pace necessary to help achieve humanity's boldest ambitions in space," Gallagher wrote in a separate mekor to JPL employees and contractors.
Is "mekor" the solution to the latest Wordle?
Re: (Score:2)
>> "While not easy, I believe that taking these actions now will help the Lab transform at the scale and pace necessary to help achieve humanity's boldest ambitions in space," Gallagher wrote in a separate mekor to JPL employees and contractors.
> Is "mekor" the solution to the latest Wordle?
almost certainly memo.
"Lean NASA" failed in the 90's. (Score:2)
NASA tried a lower-budget approach in the 90's, but the failure rate was considered embarrassingly high. Off-the-shelf parts were used more often, and testing made less rigorous, for example.
While perhaps the total science could be about the same via sending a higher volume of probes, it was generally decided a relatively high failure rate hurt national pride , and thus expensive quality assurance techniques were reinstated. Very few defenders of the cheap approach could be found in Congress after the proble
Re: (Score:2)
We are on the precipice, I believe. But this has much more to do with perceived poor output from NASA, particularly compared to SpaceX, and a "bias" against government by the current administration.