Mike Wall
Michael Wall is a Senior Space Writer with Space.com and joined the team in 2010. He primarily covers exoplanets, spaceflight and military space, but has been known to dabble in the space art beat. His book about the search for alien life, "Out There," was published on Nov. 13, 2018. Before becoming a science writer, Michael worked as a herpetologist and wildlife biologist. He has a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney, Australia, a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz. To find out what his latest project is, you can follow Michael on Twitter.
Latest articles by Mike Wall
SpaceX launches 23 satellites on 1st leg of Starlink doubleheader
By Mike Wall published
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 23 Starlink broadband satellites this morning (April 5) on the first leg of a spaceflight doubleheader for the company.
SpaceX moves Super Heavy booster to pad ahead of 4th Starship flight (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX has moved its giant Super Heavy booster to the pad for testing ahead of the next Starship test flight, which could launch as soon as May.
Blue Origin will launch Ed Dwight, the 1st-ever Black astronaut candidate, to space on next New Shepard rocket flight
By Mike Wall published
The six-person crew of Blue Origin's seventh human spaceflight includes Ed Dwight, who was picked in 1961 to be the nation's first black astronaut candidate.
NASA picks 3 companies to design lunar rover for Artemis astronauts to drive on the moon
By Mike Wall published
NASA has selected three companies to develop their versions of a rover that Artemis astronauts will start driving on the moon in 2030.
NASA to pick new moon car for Artemis astronauts today: Watch it live
By Mike Wall published
NASA will announce the company, or companies, it has selected to develop the rover for its Artemis moon program during a press conference today (April 3), and you can watch it live.
Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut launch delayed again, to May 6
By Mike Wall published
The first crewed launch of Boeing's new Starliner capsule has been delayed by an additional five days, to May 6.
Chinese space junk falls to Earth over Southern California, creating spectacular fireball (photos, video)
By Mike Wall published
A big piece of Chinese space junk fell to Earth over Southern California early Tuesday morning (April 2), putting on quite a show for observers in the Golden State.
SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites from California (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites on Monday (April 1), after a multi-day delay.
Spaceflight doubleheader! SpaceX launches 2 rockets in 4-hour span (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched two Falcon 9 rockets today (March 30) from Florida less than five hours apart.
Final launch of Delta IV Heavy rocket scrubbed late in countdown
By Mike Wall published
ULA scrubbed the last planned liftoff of its Delta Heavy IV rocket on March 28 late in the countdown clock. The new target date is April 9.
Still alive! Japan's SLIM moon lander survives its 2nd lunar night (photo)
By Mike Wall published
The SLIM spacecraft, Japan's first successful moon lander, has survived its second long, cold lunar night.
Artemis astronauts will carry plants to the moon in 2026
By Mike Wall published
NASA has selected three experiments, including a plant-growth study, to be deployed by astronauts on the moon on the Artemis 3 mission in 2026.
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites from Florida (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 23 more of the company's Starlink broadband satellites to orbit this evening (March 25).
SpaceX fires up Starship rocket ahead of 4th test flight (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX fired the engines on the upper stage of its next Starship vehicle, performing a key test ahead of the giant rocket's fourth test flight.
Intuitive Machines' private Odysseus moon lander has 'permanently faded' on lunar surface as historic mission ends
By Mike Wall published
Intuitive Machines' Odysseus moon lander has failed to send out a wakeup signal, confirming that its pioneering mission is over.
3 spaceflyers arrive at the ISS aboard Russian Soyuz spacecraft
By Mike Wall published
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft delivered three spaceflyers, including one NASA astronaut, to the International Space Station today (March 23).
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket ties reuse record with 19th launch (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched for a record-tying 19th time on Saturday evening (March 23), sending 23 Starlink internet satellites to orbit.
SpaceX moves next Starship to pad for testing ahead of 4th flight (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX has moved the upper stage of its next Starship vehicle to the pad for testing ahead of a test flight, which could lift off as soon as early May.
Russian rocket launch of 3 astronauts to ISS targeted for March 23 after abort
By Mike Wall published
A Russian Soyuz rocket is now scheduled to launch three astronauts toward the ISS on Saturday (March 23), two days after a rare abort scuttled its first try.
Watch Russian Soyuz rocket launch 3 spaceflyers to the ISS on March 23
By Mike Wall last updated
A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch three people, including one NASA astronaut, toward the ISS on Saturday morning (March 23). You can watch it live.
Rocket Lab launches mysterious spy satellites in 4th-ever US liftoff (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Rocket Lab launched from the U.S. for the fourth time ever Thursday morning (March 21), sending mystery payloads aloft for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.
SpaceX's Starship could fly again as soon as early May
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX hopes to launch the fourth test flight of its Starship megarocket just six weeks or so from now, according to the company's president and COO.
Whee! Zip down from the launch tower in SpaceX's new emergency-escape slide (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX has given us an astronaut's-eye view of the company's new emergency-escape slide in action at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.