Amy Thompson

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.

Articles by: Amy Thompson

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifting off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to deliver a batch of more than 100 cubesats into orbit.

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).

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.

Watch SpaceX launch dozens of satellites on its Transporter-3 mission today

By Amy Thompson published

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.

An artist's depiction of the IXPE observatory in space.

NASA's newly launched X-ray space telescope is ready to start observing the cosmos

By Amy Thompson published

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.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 49 Starlink satellites from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX lofts 49 Starlink internet satellites to orbit in 1st launch of 2022

By Amy Thompson published

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.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 52 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on May 26, 2021.

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.

Top 10 spaceflight stories of 2021

By Amy Thompson published

From landing on Mars to launching private citizens into space, and everything in between, this year has seen many historic milestones and giant leaps.

A SpaceX Dragon cargo ship is seen approaching the International Space Station to deliver tons of supplies along with Christmas gifts and food for astronauts as part of NASA's CRS-24 cargo mission on Dec. 22, 2021.

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.

A new SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and a previously flown Cargo Dragon spacecraft stand atop Pad 39B of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of a planned Dec. 21, 2021 launch to the International Space Station.

SpaceX aces 100th rocket landing after Dragon cargo ship launch to space station

By Amy Thompson published

SpaceX launched a Dragon cargo ship for NASA early Tuesday (Dec. 21) and nailed its 100th rocket landing.

Official Roscosmos portrait of Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina

Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina will fly on SpaceX's Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station

By Amy Thompson published

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).

A new SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and a previously flown Cargo Dragon spacecraft stand atop Pad 39B of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of a planned Dec. 21, 2021 launch to the International Space Station.

You can watch SpaceX launch NASA supplies to space station early Tuesday

By Amy Thompson published

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.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station carrying the Turksat 5B satellite to orbit, on Dec. 18, 2021.

SpaceX lofts Turkish communications satellite to orbit in 2nd Falcon 9 rocket launch of the day

By Amy Thompson published

A used SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Turkish satellite Turksat 5B communications satellite stands atop a pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida ahead of its planned Dec. 18, 2021.

SpaceX will launch its 2nd Falcon 9 rocket in less than 16 hours tonight. Watch it live.

By Amy Thompson published

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.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches on its 11th mission, a record for a single booster, carrying 52 Starlink internet satellites into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Dec. 18, 2021.

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.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying 51 Starlink satellites, on Sept. 13, 2021.

Watch SpaceX attempt a record 11th flight of a Falcon 9 rocket with Starlink launch early Saturday

By Amy Thompson published

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.

Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft sits atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida ahead of the planned launch of its Orbital Flight Test 2 mission to the International Space Station. That launch was scheduled to occur on Aug. 3, 2021, but issues with valves in Starliner’s service module have pushed it to May 2022.

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 holds the agency's current record for the single longest spaceflight by a woman. As an astronaut, she is also working to inspire the next generation of explorers.

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.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches with NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft onboard from Launch Complex 39A, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

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.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) space telescope stands at the launch pad before a Dec. 9, 2021, flight opportunity.

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.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA's Laser Communication Relay Demonstration instrument launches on the

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.

A United Launch Alliance rocket carrying the STP-3 mission for the U.S. military, including a NASA laser space communications experiment, stands atop its pad at Space Launch Copmlex 41 of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida for a Dec. 5, 2021 launch.

Atlas V rocket launch of US military space mission delayed to Tuesday. How to watch live.

By Amy Thompson published

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.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 48 Starlink satellites and two BlackSky Earth observation satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, on Dec. 2, 2021.

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.

A used SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 53 Starlink internet satellites launches through a fog layer from a pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Nov. 13, 2021.

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.

A used SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 53 Starlink internet satellites launches through a fog layer from a pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Nov. 13, 2021.

SpaceX launches 53 Starlink internet satellites and lands rocket in foggy flight

By Amy Thompson published

SpaceX launched its second rocket this week, this time carrying 53 Starlink satellites into orbit and landing a rocket on Saturday (Nov. 13).

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket topped with Starlink satellites waits on the pad before its launch in February 2021.

SpaceX delays Starlink launch amid busy week as weather threatens

By Amy Thompson published

SpaceX has postponed the latest flight of its Starlink satellite fleet this morning (Nov. 12) due to poor weather conditions at the launch site.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands on the launch pad ready to lift off. A similar rocket will launch 53 Starlink satellites into orbit on Nov. 12, 2021 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

SpaceX will launch 53 Starlink satellites Saturday after weather scrubs flight. How to watch live.

By Amy Thompson published

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.