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== History ==
== History ==
In 1936, a team of dedicated researchers conducted their first rocket experiments in a remote part of southern California. After several failures, they succeeded in building a rocket motor that would not explode when fired.<ref name=Conway>Conway, Erik. "[http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/jplhistory/early/index.php JPL - Early History]." JPL, [[NASA]], n.d. Accessed July 4, 2008.</ref> Professor Theodore von Karman of Caltech secured space for the team on the Caltech campus, but eventually their experiments proved too hazardous to conduct on campus. They then built their first facilities in 1940 at their present location near Pasadena, [[California]]. Professor von Karman became the first director of the facility, to which he gave the name ''Jet Propulsion Laboratory'' in November of 1943.<ref name=Conway/>
In 1936, a team of dedicated researchers conducted their first rocket experiments in a remote part of southern California. After several failures, they succeeded in building a rocket motor that would not explode when fired.<ref name=Conway>Conway, Erik. "[http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/jplhistory/early/index.php JPL - Early History]." JPL, [[NASA]], n.d. Accessed July 4, 2008.</ref> Professor Theodore von Karman of Caltech secured space for the team on the Caltech campus, but eventually their experiments proved too hazardous to conduct on campus. They then built their first facilities in 1940 at their present location near Pasadena, [[California]]. Professor von Karman became the first director of the facility, to which he gave the name ''Jet Propulsion Laboratory'' in November 1943.<ref name=Conway/>
The initial funding for JPL came from the United States Army Air Forces. The Army at first asked JPL to develop an engine that could help a heavily loaded aircraft take off in a shorter distance. These ''jet assisted take off'' (JATO) engines were the first practical application of rockets by the United States military.
The initial funding for JPL came from the United States Army Air Forces. The Army at first asked JPL to develop an engine that could help a heavily loaded aircraft take off in a shorter distance. These ''jet assisted take off'' (JATO) engines were the first practical application of rockets by the United States military.