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
What time is the SpaceX Ax-2 private astronaut launch for Axiom Space?
By Tariq Malik last updated
SpaceX is launching the second all-private mission to the International Space Station today (May 21) and if you're hoping to follow it online, you need to know when it actually lifts off.
SpaceX rocket 'go' to launch four private astronauts on Ax-2, a mission filled with 1sts, today
By Brett Tingley last updated
Axiom Space is ready to launch its second-ever private mission to the International Space Station.
Watch SpaceX's Ax-2 private astronaut mission dock at ISS in this free livestream on May 22
By Tariq Malik published
SpaceX's next private spaceflight will launch four astronauts to the International Space Station on Sunday (May 21) and you can watch the mission live online in a series of free webcasts.
'Do what scares you:' 3 tips to succeed from Artemis 2 moon astronaut Christina Koch
By Tariq Malik published
Astronaut Christina Koch is no stranger to hard work, or success. Here are 3 tips the NASA Artemis 2 mission specialists has for kids hoping to walk on Mars one day.
SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket aborts triple satellite launch at last minute
By Tariq Malik published
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying three satellites aborted an attempted launch at the last minute late Friday (April 28).
Watching SpaceX's Starship launch as the world's largest rocket felt simply unreal (video)
By Tariq Malik published
Here's what it was like to see (and hear) SpaceX's Starship, the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built, lift off for the first time.
SpaceX's 1st Starship launches on epic test flight, explodes in 'rapid unscheduled disassembly'
By Mike Wall, Tariq Malik published
SpaceX launched its gigantic Starship rocket toward space for the first time ever today (April 20), a milestone that could presage humanity's expansion out into the solar system.
How to watch SpaceX's 1st Starship space launch live online today (April 20)
By Tariq Malik last updated
When SpaceX attempts to launch its Starship, the world's biggest rocket, for the first time on April 20, the world will be watching and you can, too.
What time is SpaceX's 1st Starship and Super Heavy launch today (April 20)?
By Tariq Malik last updated
SpaceX is counting down to its first ever launch of the world's biggest rocket, its towering Starship vehicle, on April 20, but exactly when the rocket will fly depends on several factors.
NASA joins Japan's mission to collect the 1st samples of Mars moon Phobos
By Tariq Malik published
NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency signed a deal on April 17 to cooperate on a mission to collect samples of the Mars moon Phobos launching in 2024.
NASA may build more than one moon base for Artemis lunar missions
By Tariq Malik published
NASA may not build just one Artemis Base Camp for future lunar astronauts but rather a distributed series of lunar outposts for science and exploration.
Leaky Soyuz spacecraft at space station returns to Earth in speedy landing
By Tariq Malik last updated
A Soyuz space capsule that suffered a major coolant leak in December departed the International Space Station without a crew early Tuesday (March 28)
Relativity Space aborts launch of Terran 1, the world's first 3D-printed rocket, twice in 1 day
By Tariq Malik published
An attempt by startup Relativity Space to launch the world's first 3D-printed rocket was cut short by two aborts in one day on Saturday (March 11).
Relativity Space scrubs debut launch attempt of world's 1st 3D-printed rocket after abort
By Tariq Malik published
The space startup Relativity Space called off the first-ever flight of its new 3D-printed rocket on Wednesday (March 8) after a last-minute abort and temperature issues during the countdown.
4 big asteroids are flying by Earth this week, but don't worry. They aren't getting too close.
By Tariq Malik published
A quartet of large asteroids are zooming by Earth this week, but they'll all pass our planet with millions of miles to spare, according to NASA.
SpaceX rolls out rocket for NASA's Crew-6 astronaut launch (photos)
By Tariq Malik published
SpaceX's rocket ride for its next NASA astronaut launch from Florida is on the pad and ready for flight.
Kerbal Space Program 2 makes it easier than ever to launch — and crash — rockets (exclusive 1st look video)
By Tariq Malik published
Kerbal Space Program 2 launches in Early Access on Feb. 24 and is easier to use, with interstellar space exploration and more to come. Here's our first hands-on look.
Russian Progress cargo ship departs space station despite coolant leak
By Tariq Malik published
A robotic Russian cargo ship stricken by a coolant leak undocked from the International Space Station late Friday (Feb.17) while cosmonauts snapped photos of it looking for signs of damage.
Sun unleashes massive X2-class solar flare during geomagnetic storm watch (video)
By Tariq Malik published
A massive solar flare erupted from the sun on Friday (Feb. 17) as the Earth was under a geomagnetic storm watch from flares earlier in the week.
About Space.com: Who we are and how to contact us
By Tariq Malik last updated
Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Meet our team.
The sun just erupted with a major X-class solar flare. Here's what it looked like on video.
By Tariq Malik published
A major solar flare erupted from the erupted from the sun on Saturday (Feb. 11) and a NASA spacecraft caught it on video.
I drove 10 hours to watch a 9-minute Rocket Lab launch from Virginia and it was glorious
By Tariq Malik published
It's not every day you watch a rocket streak into space over Virginia's Eastern Shore, acing its first-ever liftoff from American soil.
Rocket Lab launches 1st Electron booster from US soil in twilight liftoff
By Tariq Malik published
The small satellite launch company Rocket Lab aced its debut liftoff from American soil on Tuesday (Jan. 24).