 The laboratory's primary function is the construction and operation of planetary robotic spacecraft, though it also conducts Earth-orbit and astronomy missions.It is also responsible for operating NASA's Deep Space Network.Among the laboratory's major active projects are the Mars Science Laboratory mission (which includes the "Curiosity" rover), the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the "Juno" spacecraft orbiting Jupiter, the NuSTAR X-ray telescope, the SMAP satellite for earth surface soil moisture monitoring, and the Spitzer Space Telescope.