The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California may be the world’s premiere space exploration facility. From the earliest days of rocketry, JPL has been at the vanguard of designing and building rockets and spaceships.

But the lab has a colorful history, and some of its founders broke the stereotypes of what a rocket scientist might be. Satanism? Friendships with L. Ron Hubbard? The Red Scare? Those only scratch the surface of this fascinating place.

And who better to talk about all this than MG Lord, author of AstroTurf: The Private Life of Rocket Science and host and creator of a podcast called Blood, Sweat, and Rockets. Jim Underdown chats with MG as they delve into the weird and wonderful history of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

This Week’s Music

“Bon Journée” by Chad Crouch / CC BY-NC 3.0
“Idle Ways” by Blue Dot Sessions / CC BY-NC 4.0