![Mike Wall](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ko9uBeoLfpGrWgq3eDjap3.jpg)
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
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches Starlink satellites into orbit from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base on March 18, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WgwHfgLumAtmUDDt98cU3J-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites from California in dusky evening liftoff (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 22 more of the company's Starlink internet satellites to orbit tonight (March 18) from California.
![a large silver rocket flies through a golden morning sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UsyVTcvivR63vNJx7NVf6D-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX's Starship will go interstellar someday, Elon Musk says
By Mike Wall published
A future, more advanced version of SpaceX's Starship megarocket will travel to other star systems, according to Elon Musk.
![a rocket launches at night](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BiNBMk6g9cuToo8LvAkPwk-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX to launch 30th cargo mission to the ISS for NASA this week
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX is scheduled to launch its 30th operational cargo mission to the International Space Station for NASA on Thursday (March 21).
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites launches from Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, March 15, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sxmwnZraWnqbwo8g62aJ8o-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 6,000th Starlink satellite on Friday night flight
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket achieved a record-tying 19th launch on Friday (March 15), carrying 23 Starlink internet satellites to orbit.
![a huge silver rocket launches into a cloudy sky above a sign that reads "gateway to mars"](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tWtxojhxL5jKRhgxSYUrUj-320-80.jpg)
FAA to oversee investigation of SpaceX Starship's 3rd test flight
By Mike Wall published
The FAA will oversee a SpaceX-led investigation into what happened on the third test flight of the company's Starship megarocket, which occurred March 14.
![onboard view showing the side of a spacecraft glowing orange as it reenters earth's atmosphere, with the ocean in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DiUviM6WUqurBhueW3uHU6-320-80.png)
Watch SpaceX's Starship reenter Earth's atmosphere in this fiery video
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's Starship captured amazing footage of its fiery trip through Earth's atmosphere during its third test flight, which took place on Thursday (March 14).
![a large silver rocket flies through a golden morning sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UsyVTcvivR63vNJx7NVf6D-320-80.jpg)
Get ready: SpaceX's Starships are coming
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched its Starship megarocket today (March 14) for the third time ever, and the company is already gearing up for liftoff number four.
![a black spacecraft stands atop its first stage booster on the launch pad with cloudy skies in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KhqBLT7cuXbsLtuqzvmE6g-320-80.jpg)
FAA grants license for SpaceX's March 14 Starship launch
By Mike Wall published
The FAA has awarded a license for the third-ever launch of SpaceX's Starship megarocket, which is scheduled for 9:25 a.m. ET on Thursday (March 14).
![a large silver rocket stands next to its launch tower, with a large sign reading "spacex" in the foreground](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oFSZiNVKM6f2jiANZA8eAH-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX stacks Starship ahead of 3rd test flight (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX has stacked Starship ahead of the megarocket's highly anticipated third test flight, which could take place as soon as Thursday (March 14).
![a rocket lifting off into the darkness](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4zmCssB76d6K5dNBcbMtAn-320-80.jpg)
Rocket Lab launches a commercial radar-imaging satellite in dramatic night liftoff (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Rocket Lab launched a radar-imaging satellite for the Japanese company Synspective on March 12.
![Thermal imaging shows the recovery vessel approaching the Crew-7 Dragon spacecraft and irs crew after sucessful splashdown](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kFBZ9riidwAfEkj7fJJyW6-320-80.png)
SpaceX's Crew-7 capsule returns 4 astronauts to Earth with predawn splashdown (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX's Crew-7 astronauts returned to Earth around 5:50 a.m. EDT on Tuesday (March 12) with their homecoming broadcast live
![nasa's meatball logo — a blue, star-flecked circle with "nasa" written in white — against a black background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/baYs9AuHxx9QXeYBiMvSLU-320-80.jpg)
NASA gets $25.4 billion in White House's 2025 budget request
By Mike Wall published
President Biden's 2025 federal budget request allocates $25.4 billion to NASA, a minimal increase over what Congress just allocated for 2024.
![a finger pointing to a small metal ball on a screen](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A5mpooAJmGYUo5rimoaE3V-320-80.jpg)
'Interstellar meteor' vibrations actually caused by a truck, study suggests
By Mike Wall published
Vibrations supposedly generated by the fiery passage of an interstellar meteor through Earth's atmosphere in 2014 were actually caused by a truck, a new study suggests.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites launches from Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Monday, March 11, 2024 (EDT).](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9dAQk9qdWsogFZ7saiQFpm-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites from California in 2nd leg of spaceflight doubleheader (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 23 more of its Starlink internet satellites from California on Monday (March 11), in the second leg of a spaceflight doubleheader.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites launches from Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Sunday, March 10, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oRSAgLVoJ96DtJJ8skbVKY-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites from Florida (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 23 of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida on Sunday (March 10).
![a silver and white space capsule sits inside a huge white-walled room with an american flag in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cWifFA8XZovvQUjFq33fHe-320-80.jpeg)
NASA, Boeing delay Starliner capsule's 1st astronaut launch to early May
By Mike Wall published
NASA and Boeing have delayed the first-ever crewed flight of the company's new Starliner capsule to early May, a slip of a few weeks.
![a black and white spacex rocket launches into a blue sky, with the ocean in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ygEz73stQzeYT9eoG8ExnA-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX employee sues company for alleged sexual discrimination, retaliation
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX employee Michelle Dopak has filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging, among other things, that the company retaliated against her for reporting sexual harassment.
![a large black and silver rocket stands on a seaside launch pad near sand dunes and an estuary.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RGBcs5HwcjKiTGojSFNZiW-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX to push the envelope on 3rd Starship test flight
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX will put its Starship megarocket through its paces on its third test flight, which could launch as soon as next week.
![crew-8 docking ISS on March 5 at 2:28 a.m. ET](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EL8ZTGVjbEXuCabkiCVjX6-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX's Crew-8 Dragon capsule docks at the ISS (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX's Crew-8 astronaut mission arrived at the International Space Station early Tuesday morning (March 5).
![Varda Space Industries' first off-Earth manufacturing capsule captured this fiery view during its reentry to Earth's atmosphere on Feb. 21, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gfb6h3WGJxnYN324gDCPBF-320-80.jpg)
Watch this private Varda Space capsule's blistering return to Earth in amazing onboard video
By Mike Wall published
Varda Space's first off-Earth manufacturing capsule captured spectacular footage of its fiery homecoming last month.
![a fisheye photo showing parts of a gold and silver lunar lander in the foreground, with the moon's gray dirt and the bright sun in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kQCUWGENidX8Luhg2QuB3X-320-80.jpg)
Goodnight, Odysseus. Intuitive Machines' private moon lander goes offline — but could it rise again?
By Mike Wall published
Intuitive Machines has shut down its robotic Odysseus lander, which last week became the first-ever private spacecraft to touch down softly on the moon.
![northern lights appear as dancing ribbons of green in the sky above a snowy mountain top.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oSbdgWMsQqzQX2MEEUP8hd-320-80.jpg)
Where and when to see the northern lights in 2024
By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated
Our northern lights 2024 guide tells you where and when to see aurora borealis throughout Europe and North America.
![A private moon lander lands on the moon with an inset portrait of magician David Copperfield.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/S56histKpHDXhGbCUJq3Gc-320-80.jpg)
Magic secrets on the moon: Q&A with David Copperfield (exclusive)
By Mike Wall published
Famed illusionist David Copperfield discusses his involvement with Intuitive Machines' historic moon mission and his desire to help preserve humanity's knowledge on and away from Earth.