Series of Deaths Among U.S. Space and Defense Experts

A research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has died under circumstances that remain undisclosed, adding to a concerning series of at least nine deaths and disappearances among experts linked to sensitive U.S. space and defense programs over the past three years.

Michael David Hicks, 59, passed away on July 30, 2023, in California. Public records do not specify a cause of death, and no information indicates an autopsy was performed. Hicks had worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, or JPL, from 1998 until 2022, contributing to more than 80 scientific papers. His research focused on the physical properties of comets and asteroids, including key roles in NASA's DART mission, which tested methods to deflect potentially hazardous space objects from Earth, and the Deep Space 1 mission, which in 2001 flew by a comet to evaluate advanced spacecraft technologies.

This case has drawn attention because it fits a broader pattern involving individuals with access to classified or high-security projects in aerospace, nuclear research, and related fields. At least three others connected to Hicks through JPL have met similar fates. Frank Maiwald, a 61-year-old principal...