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 Falcon 9 rocket launches on record-breaking 24th flight (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 24 Starlink broadband satellites early Dec. 4. It was the 24th flight for the rocket's first stage, setting a new record.
Broken water pipe knocks out data processing for NASA sun-studying spacecraft
By Mike Wall published
Data processing for NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and IRIS probe are down for a while, thanks to a burst water pipe in a server room used by the missions.
Strange "quasi-moon" of Earth will get one of these 7 names
By Mike Wall published
A panel of experts has picked seven finalists for the name of asteroid (164207) 2004 GU9, a "quasi-moon" of Earth. You can vote for your favorite through Jan. 1, 2025.
SpaceX launches next-gen US spy satellites, 20 Starlink spacecraft from California
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched a batch of spy satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office on Saturday morning (Nov. 30) from California's central coast.
SpaceX lofts 24 Starlink satellites in midnight launch from Florida (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 24 more of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at midnight on Saturday (Nov. 30).
Warm up this holiday season with NASA's new SLS rocket engine fireplace (video)
By Mike Wall published
NASA has given us a holiday treat — a virtual fireplace lit by the engines of its Space Launch System moon rocket.
Happy Thanksgiving from space! What Turkey Day dinner looks like for NASA astronauts on ISS (video)
By Mike Wall published
The four NASA astronauts currently living on the International Space Station wished us all a happy Thanksgiving — and revealed what they'll be feasting on this Turkey Day.
SpaceX launches Starlink satellites on 400th successful Falcon 9 flight (video, photos)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX notched two milestones on a Starlink satellite launch Tuesday night (Nov. 26) — its 400th successful Falcon 9 mission and 375th Falcon landing overall.
14 of the biggest spacecraft ever to fall from space
By Mike Wall last updated
A rundown of some of the biggest spacecraft to smash into Earth beyond their operators' control.
International Space Station dodges 2nd piece of space junk in 6 days
By Mike Wall published
A Russian Progress freighter docked to the ISS fired its thrusters Monday (Nov. 25) to dodge a piece of debris, the second such evasive maneuver for the orbiting lab in less than a week.
NASA's nuclear-powered Dragonfly helicopter will ride a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket toward Saturn moon Titan
By Mike Wall published
NASA has picked SpaceX to launch its Dragonfly astrobiology mission to the intriguing Saturn moon Titan. A Falcon Heavy will loft Dragonfly in July 2028.
Watch SpaceX Starship flight 6 splash down in amazing 'buoycam' footage (video)
By Mike Wall published
A camera set up on a buoy in the Indian Ocean caught the end of the sixth test flight of SpaceX's Starship megarocket on Nov. 19.
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites from Florida (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station early Monday morning (Nov. 25).
Rocket Lab sends 200th satellite to orbit on 2nd launch in 24 hours (photos, video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Rocket Lab sent five "Internet of Things" satellites to orbit on Sunday night (Nov. 24), pushing its total "spacecraft deployed" tally over 200.
SpaceX launches 20 Starlink satellites from California (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched 20 more of its Starlink internet satellites from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base early this morning (Nov. 24).
Blue Origin space tourist launches: Live mission updates
By Mike Wall last updated
Blue Origin's next space tourist mission hasn't yet been announced yet. Here are live updates of what we know.
SpaceX's Starship will fly Lunar Outpost's rover to the moon
By Mike Wall published
Lunar Outpost has picked SpaceX's Starship vehicle to launch its new moon rover and land the wheeled vehicle on the moon.
SpaceX likely to get FAA approval for 25 Starship launches in 2025
By Mike Wall published
The FAA plans to approve SpaceX's request to increase the maximum number of annual Starship launches from its South Texas site from five to 25.
SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites from Florida, its 7th liftoff in a week (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 24 more of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station this morning (Nov. 21).
What's next for SpaceX's Starship after its successful 6th test flight?
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's Starship megarocket performed well on its sixth test flight, which occurred on Tuesday (Nov. 19). So, what's next for the giant reusable vehicle?
International Space Station fires thrusters to dodge hunk of space debris
By Mike Wall published
A Russian cargo ship docked to the International Space Station fired its thrusters on Tuesday (Nov. 19) to ensure that the orbiting complex dodged a piece of space debris.
Trump watches SpaceX launch Starship's 6th test flight (photos)
By Mike Wall published
President-elect Donald Trump made the trip to South Texas today (Nov. 19) to watch the sixth test flight of SpaceX's giant Starship rocket.
SpaceX Starship launches banana to space, skips giant rocket catch on 6th test flight (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched its Starship megarocket for the sixth time ever today (Nov. 19) but did not try to catch the vehicle's Super Heavy first stage back at the pad.
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