The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's annual open house allows space geeks and budding young scientists a rare peek inside the missions behind the La Cañada Flintridge facility.
But the popular event, scheduled for June 8 and 9, has been canceled because of federal spending cuts. It typically attracts crowds of more than 15,000 each day.
"Everyone here is just horribly disappointed," said JPL spokeswoman Veronica McGregor. "This is an event we look forward to each year and we know the public really looks forward to attending it."
Blaine Baggett, JPL's director of communications and education, said in an email that canceling the event was a difficult decision.
"Open House feels like the best of our community when people from all walks of life, all ages, different cultures, you name it, they all come out because they are intellectually curious and excited about the great adventures the lab undertakes," he said.
Baggett, a La Cañada resident, described the event as a Disneyland experience for the science and engineering world that inspires not only the community, but also the employees.
