NASA’s Artemis II mission concluded April 10 with a Pacific Ocean splashdown, returning four astronauts from humanity’s first crewed journey to the Moon in more than 50 years and marking a critical step toward future lunar landings.
Caltech formally dedicated the Lynn Booth and Kent Kresa Department of Aerospace on April 8, marking the culmination of a $50 million endowment from Trustee Lynn Booth and Life Member Kent Kresa that permanently names and supports one of the Institute’s flagship programs.
Just days after liftoff from Kennedy Space Center at 6:35 p.m. EDT on April 1, Artemis II has reestablished a capability absent since Apollo 17: human transit beyond Earth orbit. The mission represents the first crewed validation of a modern deep-space system and marks a transition from experimental demonstration to operational architecture for lunar exploration.
On March 31, Caltech Student Affairs introduced the Orange Folder, a centralized online resource designed to help faculty and staff recognize and respond to students in distress. Announced in a campus-wide letter from Joseph Greenwell, Associate Vice President of Student Life and Chief Student Affairs Officer, the initiative aims to consolidate existing support resources into a single, accessible guide. The tool provides practical steps for identifying warning signs, responding to students in the moment, and connecting them with appropriate campus services.
Lloyd brought a touch of the surreal to Interhouse this year with an Alice in Wonderland-themed Lloyderhouse — equal parts whimsical and unhinged in a perfectly Caltech fashion. Walls came alive with Carollian iconography, from a looming Red Queen to playing cards and warped storybook motifs, while a vivid multicolored Cheshire Cat grinned beside the DJ booth, flickering in and out of view under the lights.
Carl Grillmair, an astronomer at Caltech’s IPAC science and data center for astronomy and planetary science, died on February 16. He was 67. His death has shaken the Caltech community, where colleagues remember as both a creative scientist and a foundational member of IPAC’s research programs.
On the night of February 21, Dabney Hovse welcomed students across campus for its Lunar New Year-themed Interhovse celebration. The courtyard centerpiece was a striking red dome topped with gold, glowing from within with shifting colored lights that illuminated the space throughout the night.
Thanks to the Interhouse Committee, Caltech’s Pi Day tradition rose again this year — a very Caltech study break for a very Caltech finals season. The well-rounded celebration happened right on schedule at 1:59 a.m. on March 14, where night-owl pi(e) enthusiasts converged in the Ricketts-Fleming courtyard for an event that was, by all measures, irrationally extravagant.
Venerable House hosted its annual Interhouse party on the night of February 28, continuing into the early morning hours of March 1, transforming the Venerable Courtyard into a Spider-Verse-inspired celebration.
On February 12, CDS celebrated Black History Month in Browne Dining Hall with a wide-ranging menu featuring soyrizo mac ‘n’ cheese, chicken and sausage gumbo (with a tofu option), BBQ jackfruit riblets, fried okra, jerk chicken and yams, shrimp grits (or tofu), chicken and waffles (with a vegetarian option), banana pudding, and biscuits. Themed décor added to the celebratory atmosphere.
