![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 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)
Boeing's Starliner capsule still on track for mid-April astronaut launch to ISS
By Mike Wall published
Boeing remains on track to launch the first-ever crewed mission of its Starliner capsule, a test flight to the International Space Station, in mid-April.
![Aerial view of External Tank-94 (ET-94) as it is suspended from a crane in front of the two solid rocket boosters it will be mated to as part of the space shuttle Endeavour exhibit in the California Science Center's Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gsRoQbELN3KeUvnBZSoRkG-320-80.jpg)
Watch a crane lift space shuttle Endeavour into place for museum exhibit early Jan. 30 (video)
By Mike Wall published
A crane will install the space shuttle Endeavour at its California Science Center home early Tuesday morning (Jan. 30), and you can watch the action live.
![A bright streak follows the path a spacex falcon 9 rocket followed to climb into space (at left) and a black and white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a night sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mmiRtpfDE8rsyRTZYuhqTQ-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches two rockets from two coasts in Starlink doubleheader (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched two more batches of its Starlink internet satellites on doubleheader liftoffs departing from both U.S. coasts.
![a space plane lights its rocket motor in space, with the curve of earth in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SEa7MkEdgghVtuk7Q69GL5-320-80.jpg)
Virgin Galactic launches 1st Ukrainian woman to space — and 3 others — on Galactic 06 suborbital flight (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Virgin Galactic launched its sixth commercial mission today (Jan. 26), sending four passengers to suborbital space and back.
![A shadow of a broken helicopter rotor on Mars](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CVF6bnw6jfC2cEFtDfWpod-320-80.jpg)
'It's sort of been invincible until this moment:' Mars helicopter Ingenuity pilot says 'bland' terrain may have doomed NASA chopper
By Mike Wall published
Flat, featureless terrain likely caused the accident that has permanently grounded NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity, mission team members say.
![A small Mars helicopter sits on Mars with an inset of damaged rotor](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hKrbLRyjCJtM7MZ7yMxqkU-320-80.jpg)
NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity has flown its last flight after suffering rotor damage
By Mike Wall published
Ingenuity, the first robot to ever fly on Mars, suffered rotor-blade damage during its most recent hop and can no longer fly, NASA announced today (Jan. 25).
![five well-dresse dpeople stand in front of furled flags in a yellow-walled room in front of a white table, which holds several small flags.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rEWBH3YVD36BVnopTfFNn-320-80.jpg)
Belgium signs Artemis Accords for responsible moon exploration
By Mike Wall published
Belgium signed the Artemis Accords on Tuesday (Jan. 23), becoming the 34th nation to become part of the moon-exploration framework.
![a handful of people in dark suits stand in front of a large black wall into which several dozen names have been carved.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3MoKbTmkMirmKcAcbAKGfP-320-80.jpg)
NASA honors fallen astronauts with 'Day of Remembrance' ceremony today
By Mike Wall last updated
NASA will honor its fallen space explorers during a ceremony at 10 a.m. EST today (Jan. 25), and you can watch the somber proceedings live.
![a golden spacecraft rests on the rubbly gray lunar surface.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NTfTQbErVvFma9atBGbVaN-320-80.jpg)
Japan's SLIM moon lander photographed on the lunar surface — on its nose (image)
By Mike Wall published
A newly released photo shows SLIM, Japan's first successful moon lander, resting on the lunar surface.
![map of europe with a yellow line indicating the path of an incoming asteroid, which hit over germany](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uotDxoQYp6dFoELDarovyR-320-80.jpg)
How NASA predicted the Jan. 21 asteroid crash over Germany
By Mike Wall published
NASA's Scout impact-assessment system told astronomers where and when the tiny space rock would crash on Sunday morning (Jan. 21).
![a small silver rocket rises into a blue sky above a desert landscape, trailing a pillar of flame](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vDfWAjnk3ypTwegZNpGPtR-320-80.jpg)
Watch Chinese startup Landspace launch and land reusable rocket prototype for 1st time (video)
By Mike Wall published
The Chinese company Landspace notched a big milestone in its quest to develop a reusable rocket, launching and landing a prototype for the first time on Jan. 19.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink satellites is seen poised for launch at Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wPbpHd2EEkpc3EpyCPUg7n-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites from California (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 22 Starlink satellites on Tuesday (Jan. 23) after a series of delays.
![the curve of earth against the blackness of space, with part of a silvery spacecraft in the foreground.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HZFvmLDEh4bes4TZ3TCAZ-320-80.jpg)
Virgin Galactic may launch 6th commercial spaceflight this week
By Mike Wall published
Virgin Galactic's sixth commercial spaceflight may be just around the corner. The launch window for the Galactic 06 mission opens on Friday (Jan. 26).
![a large white rocket lies on its side in a warehouse-like building, surrounded by scaffolding](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jxXDAkyhh7UiPyMY4hwW2g-320-80.jpg)
Blue Origin joins 2 stages of New Glenn rocket for the 1st time (photo)
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin mated the two stages of its powerful New Glenn rocket for the first time recently, in preparation for the heavy lifter's debut later this year.
![a small spacecraft hovers just above the surface of the moon, with the blackness of space in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yRdLLuJRtArpHh5YVadiPo-320-80.jpg)
Not dead yet: Japan prepares for possible recovery of SLIM moon lander
By Mike Wall published
The SLIM 'Moon Sniper' probe went silent shortly after notching Japan's first-ever lunar landing on Jan. 19. But there may be life in the spacecraft yet.
![closeup of a four-rotor drone sitting on pebbly red dirt.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/49x2gjsUvPWjb6awdAXBjL-320-80.png)
NASA loses contact with Ingenuity Mars helicopter
By Mike Wall published
NASA lost contact with its Ingenuity Mars helicopter on Thursday (Jan. 18), toward the end of the little rotorcraft's 72nd Red Planet flight.
![a small spacecraft hovers just above the surface of the moon, with the blackness of space in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yRdLLuJRtArpHh5YVadiPo-320-80.jpg)
Japan's 'Moon Sniper' probe lands on moon, but suffers power problem
By Mike Wall last updated
Japan's SLIM lander touched down on the moon today (Jan. 19), notching a huge success for the nation. But SLIM's life may be quite short, as its solar panels aren't working.
![a roughly cube-shaped spacecraft covered in solar panels descends to the surface of the moon](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/E6bm6JHy7uB5vfnhPb7Uak-320-80.jpg)
Watch Japan attempt to ace its 1st-ever moon landing today with this free livestream (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Japan's robotic SLIM spacecraft will attempt to pull off the nation's first-ever moon landing on Friday morning (Jan. 19), and you can watch the action live.
![photo taken by a spacecraft showing some of its silvery insulation withe the blackness of space, and the crescent earth, in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PmF5LZRykC65TxpgLsCcNf-320-80.jpg)
Astrobotic loses contact with hobbled Peregrine moon lander
By Mike Wall published
Astrobotic lost contact with its Peregrine moon lander on Thursday afternoon (Jan. 18), suggesting that the troubled probe crashed to Earth over the South Pacific as expected.
![A photo from space with a moon lander in view and its crash site inset](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xr2Dcdq7i2xCvb3rWtg4X9-320-80.jpg)
Crippled Peregrine moon lander expected to crash to Earth today carrying human remains
By Mike Wall published
The private Peregrine moon lander's long journey is about to come to an end, back on its home planet.
![Illustration of NASA astronauts at the lunar south pole.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XZ4AeBY9KM3xfMgEaRe47G-320-80.jpg)
US must beat China back to the moon, Congress tells NASA
By Mike Wall published
The newly announced delays to NASA's Artemis 2 and Artemis 3 moon missions are making some members of Congress nervous.
![A black and white spacecraft on a white rocket at its launch pad with an access arm](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXWeQbLMbNBqfetrMrbKP3-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX poised to launch private Ax-3 astronaut mission to ISS today
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX remains on target to launch the private Ax-3 astronaut mission to the International Space Station on Wednesday evening (Jan. 17).
![a massive rocket lifts off above a plume of fire](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jSDNrwkqQJ6wPhMYtiKcHB-320-80.jpg)
'If it had had a payload, it would have made it to orbit.' Elon Musk reveals cause of Starship explosion (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's giant Starship Mars rocket blew up about eight minutes into its second-ever test flight last fall because the launch team vented its liquid oxygen, Elon Musk said.