Amy Thompson
Amy Thompson is a Florida-based space and science journalist, who joined Space.com as a contributing writer in 2015. She's passionate about all things space and is a huge science and science-fiction geek. Star Wars is her favorite fandom, with that sassy little droid, R2D2 being her favorite. She studied science at the University of Florida, earning a degree in microbiology. Her work has also been published in Newsweek, VICE, Smithsonian, and many more. Now she chases rockets, writing about launches, commercial space, space station science, and everything in between.
Latest articles by Amy Thompson
NASA adds ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket to launch lineup for future missions
By Amy Thompson last updated
NASA has added a new rocket to its lineup of launch vehicles.
SpaceX lofts 49 Starlink internet satellites to orbit in 1st launch of 2022
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX successfully launched its first Falcon 9 rocket of the year Thursday (Jan. 6), sending a new stack of Starlink satellites into orbit from Florida, before nailing a landing at sea.
NASA's newly launched X-ray space telescope is ready to start observing the cosmos
By Amy Thompson last updated
NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) is set to begin spying on some of the universe's most dramatic objects — black holes and neutron stars.
SpaceX launches 105 small satellites into orbit, nails rocket landing
By Amy Thompson published
SpaceX successfully launched 105 small satellites into orbit before landing a veteran booster back on Earth on Thursday (Jan. 13).
Watch SpaceX launch dozens of satellites on its Transporter-3 mission today
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX is preparing another one of its Falcon 9 rockets to launch a bevy of small satellites into space this morning (Jan. 13), and you can watch the fiery action live online.
Top 10 spaceflight stories of 2021
By Amy Thompson last updated
From landing on Mars to launching private citizens into space, and everything in between, this year has seen many historic milestones and giant leaps.
SpaceX will launch 49 Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket today. Watch it live!
By Amy Thompson published
SpaceX is gearing up to launch its first rocket of 2022 on Thursday evening (Jan. 6) and you can watch the action live online.
SpaceX aces 100th rocket landing after Dragon cargo ship launch to space station
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX launched a Dragon cargo ship for NASA early Tuesday (Dec. 21) and nailed its 100th rocket landing.
SpaceX Dragon cargo ship delivers Christmas presents (and supplies) to space station
By Amy Thompson published
A SpaceX Dragon capsule arrived at the International Space Station early Wednesday (Dec. 22), carrying with it a holiday haul of science gear and Christmas treats.
Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina will fly on SpaceX's Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station
By Amy Thompson last updated
NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos are finalizing an agreement to launch the first cosmonaut on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, agency officials confirmed on Monday (Dec. 20).
You can watch SpaceX launch NASA supplies to space station early Tuesday
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX will launch a Dragon spacecraft packed with NASA cargo to the International Space Station early Tuesday (Dec. 21) and you can watch it live.
SpaceX lofts Turkish communications satellite to orbit in 2nd Falcon 9 rocket launch of the day
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX will launch its 2nd Falcon 9 rocket in less than 16 hours tonight. Watch it live.
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX will launch its second Falcon 9 mission in less than 16 hours tonight, Dec. 18, and you'll be able to watch it live online.
Watch SpaceX attempt a record 11th flight of a Falcon 9 rocket with Starlink launch early Saturday
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX will launch its second stack of Starlink satellites from the West Coast early Saturday morning (Dec. 18), and you can watch the action live online.
SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket on record 11th flight carrying 52 Starlink satellites
By Amy Thompson published
SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket for a record 11th time Saturday (Dec. 18) to deliver 52 Starlink satellites into orbit.
Boeing plans to launch its Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station in May 2022
By Amy Thompson published
The next launch of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is slated for May 2022, company officials announced on Monday (Dec. 13).
NASA astronaut Christina Koch is breaking records and inspiring the next generation
By Amy Thompson published
Record-setting NASA astronaut Christina Koch is continuing her mission to inspire the next generation of explorers.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches NASA's new IXPE X-ray space telescope
By Amy Thompson published
IXPE will probe the physics behind some of the universe's most dynamic objects: black holes and neutron stars.
SpaceX will launch a new X-ray space telescope for NASA early Thursday. Here's how to watch live.
By Amy Thompson published
SpaceX will launch a new space observatory for NASA overnight and you can watch the action live online.
Atlas V rocket launches NASA laser communications prototype and Space Force experiments into orbit
By Amy Thompson published
An Atlas V rocket lit up the predawn sky over Florida early Tuesday (Dec. 7) to launch a novel NASA laser space communications satellite into orbit.
Atlas V rocket launch of US military space mission delayed to Tuesday. How to watch live.
By Amy Thompson last updated
An Atlas V is scheduled to blast off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 4:04 a.m. EDT (0904 GMT) on Dec. 7 for the U.S. Space Force.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 50 satellites to orbit for Starlink megaconstellation, BlackSky
By Amy Thompson published
There were 48 Starlink satellites on board, plus two Earth observation satellites for BlackSky Global.
SpaceX to launch its next Starlink fleet and 2 BlackSky satellites tonight. Watch it live!
By Amy Thompson published
SpaceX will launch its next stack of Starlink satellites from the East Coast tonight (Dec. 2) as part of a rideshare mission, and you can watch the action live online.
SpaceX launches 53 Starlink internet satellites and lands rocket in foggy flight
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX launched its second rocket this week, this time carrying 53 Starlink satellites into orbit and landing a rocket on Saturday (Nov. 13).
SpaceX will launch 53 Starlink satellites Saturday after weather scrubs flight. How to watch live.
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX will launch its first stack of Starlink broadband satellites since May from the East Coast tomorrow morning (Nov. 12) and you can watch the action live online.
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