California Institute of Technology

The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is a private research university founded in 1891 in Pasadena, California, USA. As a leading academic institution, Caltech conducts extensive research in astronomy, astrophysics, and planetary science through its Astronomy Department and partnerships with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Key activities include developing advanced space telescopes for exoplanet detection and biosignature analysis, such as the Habitable Worlds Observatory planned for the late 2030s. Caltech researchers participate in NASA's astrobiology programs studying extraterrestrial life origins and detection methods. The institution hosts the Roman Space Telescope Science Support Center and collaborates on projects examining potentially habitable environments on distant moons and planets, contributing significantly to the scientific search for life beyond Earth.