The Jet Propulsion Laboratory'sProject Prometheus (not the same as NASA's Project Prometheus) was established in 1993 by the JPL to build an orbiting satellite network that would serve as the foundation for communicating with unmanned interstellar satellites (see Project Centauri). This was the first joint collaboration of JPL with a private company, Thunderstorm Enterprises.

Name

Project Prometheus is named after the Titan Prometheus, who. in Greek mythology, stole fire from the gods and brought it down to mankind. JPL chose the name Prometheus to represent the growing knowledge of the universe.