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
![illustration of two astronauts in white spacesuits working on the moon, with earth in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xf3RZ7mgCu6S7fpWF8HHpk-320-80.jpg)
Chile and Cyprus join Artemis Accords for responsible moon exploration
By Mike Wall published
Chile and Cyprus have signed the Artemis Accords, bringing the number of nations in the moon-exploration coalition to 47.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink satellites lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WpTcpi66pNCHSFBtFiEshM-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 22 Starlink internet satellites from Florida (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida's Space Coast on Saturday evening (Oct. 26).
![four black and white photos showing closeup looks at a spacecraft in earth orbit](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mM7LfEtcX3KEvKAhQ9YgGY-320-80.jpg)
NASA's solar-sailing spacecraft has a bent boom and is still tumbling in Earth orbit (photo)
By Mike Wall published
The technology-demonstrating Advanced Composite Solar Sail System has a bent boom in Earth orbit, but NASA says it shouldn't be a big deal.
![Four Crew-8 astronauts smile and wave in white SpaceX spacesuits inside their spacecraft.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rJYPmveq5TdDMahsWqTnLC-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Crew-8 astronaut mission: Live updates
By Mike Wall published
Read the latest news about SpaceX's Crew-8 and Crew-9 missions to the International Space Station for NASA.
![illustration of a blue and white space capsule against a blue background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5tALantPa6nxKW7gWDARxN-320-80.jpg)
Chinese company Deep Blue Aerospace plans to start launching space tourists in 2027
By Mike Wall published
Chinese company Deep Blue Aerospace plans to start launching customers to suborbital space and back in 2027, for a price of about $210,000 per seat.
![a space capsule splashes down in the ocean on a sunny clear day](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GoDq4aWFowK8eLrnkSHQEN-320-80.jpg)
Watch SpaceX Crew-8 astronauts return to Earth early Oct. 25
By Mike Wall published
The astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-8 mission will return to Earth early Friday morning (Oct. 25), and you can watch their homecoming live.
![The nose cone of an Astra rocket with its arrow logo and U.S. flag](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YmYemckQqijAU4S2Gz2bGM-320-80.jpg)
Launch startup Astra gets up to $44 million from US military for new 'Rocket 4' line
By Mike Wall published
Launch startup Astra has secured a contract with the US military, worth up to $44 million, to continue developing its new Rocket 4 vehicle.
![a black and white rocket launches into a clear blue sky from a seaside pad](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XHkBBP92LvtaMq6dqX7aHf-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches next-gen US spy satellites on 100th Falcon 9 flight of the year (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched a batch of spy satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office today (Oct. 24) on the 100th Falcon 9 flight of the year.
![a white and black rocket launches into a blue sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Rtxf5jdavuw8yT7uWuc8mj-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink broadband satellites to orbit from Florida (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 23 more of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida's Space Coast on Wednesday evening (Oct. 23).
![a white-and-blue rocket launches under a blue sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w9atEtDwKYqh6NoNCKPcmF-320-80.jpg)
Blue Origin launches 2nd human-rated New Shepard rocket, nails landing (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Blue Origin launched its second human-rated New Shepard vehicle on an uncrewed flight Wednesday morning (Oct. 23) and nailed the landing of both crew capsule and rocket.
![Starlink satellites before deployment.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/66nAsxpJr7oyGUxf3BDYpA-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX's Starlink internet flies on a Boeing 777 jet for the 1st time
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's Starlink satellites provided internet service on a Boeing 777 jet for the first time today (Oct. 22), during a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to London.
![ocean-level view of a rocket coming down for a splashdown at night](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uR2jHFPFWqYCCLx53EpVGF-320-80.jpg)
Watch SpaceX's Starship come down for nighttime splashdown during epic test flight (video)
By Mike Wall published
A new video shows the upper stage of SpaceX's Starship coming down for a nocturnal splashdown during its fifth test flight.
![a rocket lifting off in front of a blue sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JczvbFZcPL8gNyo6oRjRgW-320-80.jpg)
US Space Force awards SpaceX $730 million to launch at least 9 national-security missions
By Mike Wall published
The U.S. Space Force has awarded SpaceX $730 million to launch at least nine national security missions, seven of them for the Space Development Agency.
![a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a night sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tUgUAKidX2nHumg4PCS3Jm-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 20 Starlink internet satellites from Florida (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched 20 more of its Starlink broadband satellites, including 13 with direct-to-cell capability, from Florida tonight (Oct. 18).
![view of earth's curve against the blackness of space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c9ev2uES3m8R3SivJDnkfG-320-80.jpg)
Richard Branson will co-pilot Space Perspective's 1st crewed balloon flight to edge of Earth's atmosphere
By Mike Wall published
Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson will serve as co-pilot on tourism company Space Perspective's first crewed balloon flight, expected to occur in 2025.
![a large silver rocket comes back to earth to land beside its launch tower, with the rising sun and the ocean in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2Bd2iSfNPm9ugmCJu55V3P-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX plans to catch Starship upper stage with 'chopsticks' in early 2025, Elon Musk says
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX just caught the giant first-stage booster of its Starship megarocket — and it plans to do the same with the vehicle's upper stage soon.
![A giant SpaceX rocket hovers near a lauch tower with metal arms trying to catch it as people watch from boats](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KRGz5fXyWeKq7WFAMUGFr5-320-80.png)
SpaceX catches giant Starship booster with 'Chopsticks' on historic Flight 5 rocket launch and landing (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched its enormous Starship rocket for the fifth time ever today (Oct. 13), on a dramatic test flight that featured a mid-air catch of the first-stage Super Heavy booster.
![a hurricane is seen through the window of an orbiting spacecraft, with a white space capsule in the foreground](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XkMuf4ToqW7FGniezZ2JxE-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX's Crew-8 astronauts to depart ISS for trip home soon amid weather delays
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX's Crew-8 astronaut mission for NASA was scheduled to depart the International Space Station early Sunday morning (Oct. 13), but NASA and SpaceX waved off the attempt due to weather.
![a black and white rocket launches into a cloudy blue sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xdDigHvTnXLYabpeHnDVgA-320-80.jpg)
FAA clears SpaceX to resume Falcon 9 rocket launches
By Mike Wall published
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced on Friday (Oct. 11) that it has given SpaceX the green light to resume launches of its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket.
![view from the international space station of red and green auroras over earth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eJy4dqretMgpmV9JXPize8-320-80.jpg)
'Stunning was the word': Astronauts snap amazing aurora photo from ISS during severe geomagnetic storm
By Mike Wall published
NASA astronauts Don Pettit and Matthew Dominick captured a supercharged, super-red aurora display from the International Space Station.
![view through an orbiting spacecraft's window showing a large hurricane on earth below, with a white space capsule in the foreground](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/s7yRFcpw5FWH2ccRCF9WZ8-320-80.jpg)
Dragon's-eye view: Astronaut captures amazing shots of Hurricane Milton from space (photos, video)
By Mike Wall published
NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick snapped striking photos of the powerful Hurricane Milton through the window of a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, which is docked to the ISS.
![photo taken in space showing earth in the background and the nozzle of a rocket engine in the foreground](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FtWKyWbwtbLgGjFU4az4ic-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX rocket snaps amazing views of Earth during Hera asteroid probe launch (photos)
By Mike Wall published
The upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket captured amazing images of Earth Monday (Oct. 7) during the launch of Europa's Hera asteroid probe.
![A vast Category 5 Hurricane Milton seen from the International Space Station.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/K7QUp3aXp23hcMDUpLgJZY-320-80.jpg)
Hurricane Milton forces NASA, SpaceX to delay Crew-8 astronauts' return to Earth
By Mike Wall last updated
Hurricane Milton has pushed the return to Earth of SpaceX's Crew-8 astronaut mission for NASA to no earlier than Sunday (Oct. 13), a six-day delay at the minimum.
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