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 22 Starlink satellites on 3rd leg of spaceflight tripleheader (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 22 Starlink internet satellites on Thursday (Feb. 15), the third mission in less than 24 hours for the company.
SpaceX launches classified USSF-124 satellites on secret Valentine's Day mission for US Space Force (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched the classified USSF-124 missile defense mission for the U.S. Space Force today (Feb. 14), recovering the Falcon 9 booster for the company's 272nd landing of an orbital rocket.
SpaceX stacks giant Starship rocket ahead of 3rd test flight (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX recently stacked the two stages of its huge Starship rocket to prep for the vehicle's third-ever liftoff, which may be just a few weeks away.
SpaceX could launch Starship again 'in about 3 weeks,' Elon Musk says
By Mike Wall published
The third test flight of SpaceX's Starship megarocket will take place roughly three weeks from now, according to company founder and CEO Elon Musk.
SpaceX rolls giant Starship rocket to launch pad ahead of 3rd test flight (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX rolled the two stages of its latest Starship rocket to the launch pad over the weekend, then stacked them to prep for a coming test flight.
SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites into orbit from California (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 22 more of its Starlink internet satellites on Friday (Feb. 9) at 7:34 p.m. EST (0034 GMT on Feb. 10).
SpaceX Dragon carrying Ax-3 astronauts splashes down in Atlantic to end longest private spaceflight for Axiom Space
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying four astronauts splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean early Friday (Feb. 9), wrapping up a record-setting private trip to the International Space Station.
SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn orbital mission delayed to summer 2024
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission, which aims to pull off the first-ever private spacewalk, will now launch no earlier than this summer.
20 people in space! Humanity quietly tied a record last month
By Mike Wall published
For a few minutes on Jan. 26, 20 people were in space at the same time, tying a record set just last May.
Relive SpaceX Starship's epic 2nd test flight in newly released NASA footage (video)
By Mike Wall published
Newly released NASA footage shows the second test flight of SpaceX's giant Starship rocket in dramatic detail.
SpaceX launches NASA's PACE satellite to study Earth's oceans, air and climate (video)
By Mike Wall published
NASA's PACE ocean-monitoring satellite, which the Trump administration tried to cancel four times, launched to orbit today (Feb. 8) atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Ax-3 astronauts depart ISS in SpaceX Dragon capsule for splashdown on Feb. 9 (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
The four astronauts of the private Ax-3 mission departed the International Space Station in their SpaceX Dragon capsule on Feb. 7, following days of weather delays.
Big, dead European satellite will crash back to Earth this month
By Mike Wall published
The European Space Agency's defunct ERS-2 spacecraft will fall into Earth's atmosphere in a week or so, in a death dive that its handlers will monitor carefully.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab laying off 8% of its workforce
By Mike Wall published
Budgetary issues have forced the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA's chief center for robotic planetary exploration, to reduce its workforce by about 8%.
SpaceX targeting Feb. 14 for launch of Intuitive Machines IM-1 private moon mission
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX is targeting Feb. 14 for the launch of Intuitive Machine's IM-1 mission, which aims to become the first private effort to soft-land on the moon.
879 days! Russian cosmonaut breaks record for total time spent in space
By Mike Wall published
Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko has now racked up more than 879 days in space, breaking the record for most time spent off Earth.
SpaceX to launch NASA's PACE ocean-monitoring satellite this week
By Mike Wall published
NASA's PACE satellite, which will help scientists gauge the health of oceans around the world, is set to launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket early on Feb. 7.
SpaceX shows off Super Heavy boosters 'for the next 3' Starship flights (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX just shared photos of the "megabay" at its Stabase site in South Texas, which is jam-packed with Starship Super Heavy boosters.
SpaceX, NASA targeting Feb. 22 for launch of Crew-8 astronaut mission
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX and NASA are targeting Feb. 22 for the launch of Crew-8, the company's eighth operational astronaut mission to the International Space Station.
Private Cygnus cargo ship arrives at the ISS carrying 8,200 pounds of supplies
By Mike Wall last updated
Northrop Grumman's robotic Cygnus spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station early Thursday morning (Feb. 1) captured by the space station's robotic arm.
NASA names astronauts for SpaceX's Crew-9 mission to the ISS
By Mike Wall published
NASA has named the four astronauts who will fly to the International Space Station on SpaceX's Crew-9 mission, which will lift off no earlier than August.
SpaceX gearing up to launch Intuitive Machines private moon lander in February
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX and Intuitive Machines are making progress toward the launch of the Nova-C moon lander, which is slated to occur about two weeks from now.
SpaceX's Starship to launch 'Starlab' private space station in late 2020s
By Mike Wall published
The team behind Starlab has selected SpaceX's giant Starship rocket to launch the private space station in 2028 or thereabouts.