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
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 60 Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Station in Florida on Feb. 4, 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QYpZAjKKB8aN3iSDMfMwKf-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites on record-setting used rocket, nails landing
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX launched 60 Starlink internet satellites early Thursday (Feb. 4) in the first of two near back-to-back launches.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 60 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, on Nov. 24, 2020, at 9:13 p.m. EDT (0213 Nov. 25 GMT)..](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pnvYLiwpce6hhwdFoo8maK-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX will launch 2 Starlink missions in 2 days starting Thursday. Watch them live!
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX will launch its next batch of Starlink satellites on Thursday (Feb. 4), as part of a potential launch doubleheader that will further expand the company's satellite-internet fleet.
![An artist's illustration of the Sirius XM-7 satellite in orbit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MTKxs5xrAnUfJcsZWBePYV-320-80.jpg)
Sirius XM's newest satellite, SXM-7, has failed in orbit
By Amy Thompson last updated
SiriusXM's newest satellite, SXM-7, has suffered undisclosed failures during in-orbit testing, the company revealed in an SEC filing on Wednesday (Jan. 27).
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands atop its Cape Canaveral Space Force Station launch pad to launch 143 satellites on the Transporter-1 rideshare mission from Florida's Space Coast on Jan. 23, 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WAC7hKq2uCg8QZdJHwexgV-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX to launch dozens of satellites on Transporter-1 flight Sunday and you can watch it live
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX is preparing one of its veteran rockets to launch a stack of small satellites into space on Sunday (Jan. 24). Here's how to watch.
![After launching the Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station, a SpaceX Falcon 9 booster returns to shore with a lean, on Nov. 19, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wo6xsgpMkHakycXZUjNBm6-320-80.jpg)
In photos: SpaceX's leaning Crew-1 Falcon 9 booster returns to port
By Amy Thompson published
Here's that time when a SpaceX rocket came home leaning like the Tower of Pisa.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 143 small satellites into orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Jan. 24, 2021 to mark the Transporter-1 rideshare mission.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gP4RGAH7kWydvXmTVSFFzc-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches a record 143 satellites on one rocket, aces landing
By Amy Thompson published
SpaceX successfully launched an ambitious rideshare mission as one of its veteran rockets hoisted a record 143 small satellites into space before nailing a landing at sea.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches on a record 8th flight to delivery 60 Starlink internet satellites into orbit from Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 20, 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VzCv9GKP3bycNhiY6Nrt38-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX rocket launches on record 8th flight carrying 60 Starlink satellites, nails landing
By Amy Thompson last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched on a record 8th flight to send a new fleet of the company's Starlink internet satellites into orbit on Wednesday (Jan.20) and then nailed a landing at sea.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the SXM-7 Sirius XM radio satellite into orbit on Dec. 13, 2020. The same rocket booster will launch on its eighth flight on Jan. 18, 2020 to deliver 60 Starlink internet satellites to orbit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6Zt2meURLjtUFVwjTmsn37-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX will launch its 1st Starlink satellites of 2021 on Wednesday. Here's how to watch.
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX will launch its first batch of Starlink satellites in 2021 on Tuesday (Jan. 19) to expand the company's growing megaconstellation and you can watch the action live online.
![NASA's first Space Launch System core booster ignites its four main engines at the Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi on Jan. 16, 2020. Expected to last 8 minutes, the test lasted just over 1 minute.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2oZcxUCeeGHNDnQQtS4gbV-320-80.jpg)
Critical engine test for NASA's Space Launch System megarocket shuts down earlier than planned
By Amy Thompson last updated
NASA fired up the core stage of its massive new megarocket Saturday (Jan. 16) in a critical test that appeared to shut down early.
![NASA's first Space Launch System Core booster undergoes a fueling test on the B-2 Test Stand at the Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi on Dec. 21, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bFiZtYnSQHBhDwkYSUt5yG-320-80.jpg)
NASA will test-fire its 1st SLS megarocket for moon missions today. Here's how to watch.
By Amy Thompson published
NASA will attempt to fire the engines on its Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket for the first time today and you can watch the fiery action live online.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the new Turksat 5a telecommunications satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral, Florida on Jan. 7, 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6iPYKQxxssF9NTwGEgi2Fk-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX will launch the Turksat 5A satellite for Turkey tonight. Here's how to watch live.
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX is set to launch a Turkish communications satellite into orbit on Thursday evening (Jan. 7), and you can watch the action online.
![The Nanoracks Bishop airlock is pictured after its installation to the International Space Station's Tranquility module, on Dec. 20, 2020. The station's Canadarm2 robotic arm, which relocated the airlock from the trunk of SpaceX's Dragon cargo spacecraft to its new home outside Tranquility, is still attached to the airlock in this view. Adjacent to Bishop on the aft side of Tranquility is the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gxSaWr3TiL2iqhq8Asmq2i-320-80.jpg)
The International Space Station is now home to the world's 1st commercial airlock
By Amy Thompson published
The International Space Station is now sporting a shiny new piece of hardware.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands ready to launch the NROL-108 mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The mission is scheduled to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec. 17, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/htEuH9NwAFwT8j6H7TGTYd-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX will launch a spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office Thursday. Watch it live!
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX is set to launch a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office on Thursday (Dec. 17), during a three-hour launch window that opens at 9:45 a.m. EST (1400 GMT).
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the classified NROL-108 spy satellite into orbit from Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Dec. 19, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JiwuEAUpoBAfZYG3FAZwN4-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches classified US spy satellite, sticks rocket landing to cap record year
By Amy Thompson published
SpaceX launched a clandestine U.S. spy satellite into space for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Thursday (Dec. 17), marking its 26th rocket of the year.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the Sirius XM satellite SMX-7 into orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Dec. 13, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EB6YT4rhC2Wi7rnWNh9ZAe-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX just launched a powerful Sirius XM satellite into orbit and nailed a rocket landing
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX launched a veteran Falcon 9 rockets on its seventh trip to space Sunday (Dec. 13) to carry a massive radio satellite into orbit for Sirius XM and then return to Earth.
![A used SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Sirius XM satellite SXM-7 stands atop its launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida for a Dec. 11, 2020 launch.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Re7HhNbyGhA7g3R9MPxTi3-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX to launch new Sirius XM satellite from Florida today. How to watch it live.
By Amy Thompson last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch on its seventh flight Friday (Dec. 11) to deliver the Sirius XM-7 communications satellite into orbit.
![A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying the classified NROL-44 spy satellite stands atop Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in this Aug. 28, 2020 image. The mission will launch on Dec. 10.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kFyHj7CVxCgpvZwkbnn7qG-320-80.jpg)
You can watch a US spy satellite launch on a giant Delta IV Heavy rocket tonight. Here's how.
By Amy Thompson last updated
A new U.S. spy satellite will launch into space Thursday (Dec. 10) on the mightiest rocket built by the United Launch Alliance: the massive Delta IV Heavy. Watch it live.
![A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket launches the classified NROL-44 satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office on Dec. 10, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QH2rRPDANVkEqhNtguFYbh-320-80.jpg)
Powerful Delta IV Heavy rocket launches secret US spy satellite to orbit
By Amy Thompson published
A Delta IV Heavy launched the heavy NROL-44 spacecraft for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office today (Dec. 10).
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying an upgraded Dragon cargo ship on the CRS-21 cargo mission to the International Space Station for NASA launches from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec. 6, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QPR9QwdcPXA5nHTXRE6yDc-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches upgraded Dragon cargo ship to space station, aces rocket landing
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX launched its 100th successful Falcon 9 rocket flight to send an upgraded Dragon cargo ship into space for NASA Sunday (Dec. 6).
![SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and cargo Dragon capsule on the pad ahead of a planned Dec. 5, 2020, launch toward the International Space Station.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Mx6s3zihBSHR4qLFNHrhJD-320-80.jpeg)
Tissue chips and organoids: SpaceX is launching lots of science to space for NASA on Sunday
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX's next resupply mission to the International Space Station, scheduled to launch Sunday (Dec. 6), will carry a host of science gear to the astronauts living and working on the orbiting lab.
![SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and cargo Dragon capsule on the pad ahead of a planned Dec. 6, 2020 launch toward the International Space Station.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QdXg3eNRZMhVspX6smcyZf-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX will launch a Dragon cargo ship to the International Space Station for NASA today. Here's how to watch live.
By Amy Thompson last updated
SpaceX will launch its a Dragon spacecraft packed with NASA cargo to the International Space Station today in its first uncrewed mission with its upgraded spacecraft.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 60 Starlink internet satellites from Florida on Nov. 24, 2020. It was the 100th Falcon 9 launch overall and the seventh mission for this particular rocket's first stage.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YH7SU78eiAWo8xgLqyqWsJ-320-80.jpeg)
SpaceX rocket launches for record 7th time, nails landing at sea in 100th Falcon 9 mission
By Amy Thompson published
SpaceX just launched one of its Falcon 9 rockets for a record seventh time. The booster carried a stack of 60 Starlink internet satellites into orbit and then nailed a landing at sea.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich ocean-mapping satellite launches into space from the SLC-4E launchpad at Vandenberg Air Force Station, California on Nov. 21, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CFkn3iDMH6wnwtUGkN9D9M-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches advanced ocean-mapping satellite for NASA and Europe, nails rocket landing
By Amy Thompson last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the advanced Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich ocean-mapping satellite for NASA Saturday (Nov. 21)
Get the Space.com Newsletter
Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!