Tariq Malik
Tariq is the Editor-in-Chief of Space.com based out of our New York City office and joined the team in 2001, first as an intern and staff writer, and later as an editor. He covers human spaceflight, exploration and space science, as well as skywatching and entertainment. He became Space.com's Managing Editor in 2009 and Editor-in-Chief in 2019. In October 2022, Tariq received the Harry Kolcum Award for excellence in space reporting from the National Space Club Florida Committee.
Hailing from Stockton, California (where he attended the same high school as NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez), Tariq studied print journalism and astronomy at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, earning a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1999 along with a minor in astronomy. He then served as a staff reporter for The Los Angeles Times covering education and city beats in La Habra and Fullerton in Orange County for the Our Times sections.
In 2000, Tariq became the city reporter for the Huntington Beach Independent, a weekly publication of the Los Angeles Times, covering local politics and events, crime, business and environmental issues. He left the Los Angeles Times in 2001 to study science journalism at New York University, where he earned a master's degree in 2002 from NYU's Science and Environmental Reporting Program (now the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program) under the direction of space reporter William Burrows.
Tariq first joined Space.com as an intern in September 2001 while also serving as a research assistant for nutrition writer Gary Taubes and writing freelance projects, where his work appeared in The Scientist and Laboratory Equipment Magazine. He became a full-time reporter covering spaceflight in 2004, with this first launch being NASA's STS-114 Return to Flight mission in July 2005.
Tariq is also an Eagle Scout (yes, he has the Space Exploration merit badge) and went to Space Camp four times as a kid and a fifth time as an adult. When not writing about space, you can find Tariq watching the latest Star Trek TV series, sci-fi movies and reading about hippos, his favorite animal. You can find Tariq at Space.com and as the co-host to the This Week In Space podcast with space historian Rod Pyle on the TWiT network. To see his latest project, you can follow Tariq on Twitter @tariqjmalik.
Latest articles by Tariq Malik
Ailing Peregrine moon lander on path to crash into Earth, Astrobotic says
By Tariq Malik published
The beleaguered private moon lander Peregrine is now on a collision course with Earth, Astrobotic said Saturday.
What time is ULA's 1st Vulcan rocket launch with Astrobotic's private moon lander on Jan. 8?
By Tariq Malik last updated
The United Launch Alliance is ready to launch its first-ever Vulcan rocket but if you're hoping to watch the historic liftoff, you'll need to know when and how.
SpaceX test fires giant Starship booster — and spaceship — for 3rd test flight (video)
By Tariq Malik published
SpaceX closed out 2023 with a fiery double test of its next Starship megarocket booster and spacecraft on Friday (Sept. 29).
Astronauts in space beam holiday wishes to Earth for Christmas (video)
By Tariq Malik published
Astronauts on the International Space Station are sending holiday cheer to Earth with a festive video just in time for Christmas.
NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission: Live updates
By Tariq Malik, Elizabeth Howell published
NASA's Artemis 2 mission is returning astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972. See live mission updates here.
Cosmonauts dock Russian Progress cargo ship to ISS on remote control after autopilot glitch
By Tariq Malik published
Russian cosmonauts on the International Space Station took manual control of an incoming Progress 86 cargo ship on Sunday, Dec. 3, due to an autopilot issue.
Black Friday streaming deal last chance! save 67% on 3 months of Paramount Plus
By Tariq Malik last updated
Deals Get your first 3 months of Paramount Plus for just $1.99/month, this Black Friday streaming deal is still live so beam up all the Trek you want!
Hurry! This Cyber Monday streaming deal IS the deal you've been looking for
By Tariq Malik last updated
Deals Binge awesome sci-fi with this Cyber Monday streaming deal on Hulu. Slash the normal $7.99 base price for the streaming service by 87% — hurry though, the offer ends Nov. 28!
Cyber Monday space gifts 2024: Telescope deals, binocular discounts, camera deals and more
By Jase Parnell-Brookes last updated
Deals We've scoured the net for the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on space-related gear, from telescopes to cameras and more.
Peacock Cyber Monday deal: $1.99 a month for a full year of SYFY and more
By Tariq Malik last updated
Deals Save big on Peacock with 67% off the streaming service and watch sci-fi shows like Resident Alien and Quantum Leap this Black Friday.
Ends today: Max Cyber Monday deal for $2.99 — 6 months of streaming at 70% off
By Tariq Malik published
Deals You can binge From Earth To The Moon on the Max streaming service at just $2.99 a month for 6 months this Black Friday.
This huge Lego Marvels Avengers Tower comes with free gifts for Black Friday
By Tariq Malik published
Deals The arrival of Black Friday marks the launch of Lego's huge Marvel Avengers Tower set, and if you grab it this weekend, you'll score some free gifts for your brick buy.
Lego extends early Black Friday deals for for Insiders ahead of epic Marvel Avengers Tower set launch
By Tariq Malik last updated
Deals Lego has raised the bar for Black Friday deals with a ton of offers Lego Insiders rolling out with one of the biggest Lego sets I've ever seen: the Marvel Avengers Tower.
SpaceX's 2nd Starship launch test looks amazing in these stunning photos and videos
By Tariq Malik published
SpaceX's second Starship test flight on Nov. 18 may have met an explosive end, but photos of the launch were absolutely amazing.
What time is SpaceX's 2nd Starship and Super Heavy launch today (Nov. 18)?
By Tariq Malik last updated
SpaceX has a two-hour window to launch the Starship SN25 spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket on Nov. 18, starting at 8 a.m. EST (1300 GMT).
I've been a space reporter for 22 years and think Starfield's Constellation Edition is an epic Apollo-era treat (video)
By Tariq Malik published
With its clear NASA-inspired touches and real-world versions of game devices, Starfield's Constellation Edition is a must-have for space gamers.
SpaceX says its 2nd Starship test flight could launch on Nov. 17 (video)
By Tariq Malik published
SpaceX says its next Starship launch could occur as early as Nov. 17, pending regulatory approval from the Federal Aviation Administration and other agencies.
The annular solar eclipse of 2023 is underway! See the 1st 'ring of fire' photos and video
By Tariq Malik published
The first images of the moon passing between the sun and the Earth in a so-called "ring of fire" solar eclipse visible are coming in and the views are amazing.
NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return to Earth: Live updates
By Tariq Malik last updated
NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample-return mission will return pieces of asteroid Bennu to Earth on Sept. 24, 2023. Follow the historic landing live here.
NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft releases asteroid sample capsule toward Earth in flyby, heads to Apophis
By Tariq Malik published
The first asteroid samples ever collected by NASA are closing in on Earth for a historic landing in Utah today (Sept. 24).
SpaceX, NASA delay Crew-6 Dragon astronauts' return to Earth due to bad weather
By Tariq Malik published
SpaceX and NASA say the Crew Dragon capsule carrying four Crew-6 astronauts will now depart the International Space Station no earlier than Sept. 3, a 24-hour delay.
SpaceX Crew-7 Dragon capsule docks at space station with international astronaut team (video)
By Tariq Malik last updated
A SpaceX Dragon capsule docked at the International Space Station Sunday (Aug. 27) with a new astronaut crew to begin a half-year mission.
Russia says its Luna-25 lunar lander has crashed into the moon
By Elizabeth Howell published
Luna-25, which Russia had hoped would land at the south pole of the moon, crashed into the moon on Aug. 19 after an orbital maneuver went wrong.
Boeing delays 1st Starliner astronaut launch for NASA indefinitely over parachute, wiring safety issues
By Tariq Malik published
Boeing is standing down from the first-ever crewed launch of its Starliner capsule for NASA due to safety issues with the spacecraft's parachutes and wiring.