Amy Thompson

Amy Thompson

Contributing Writer

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 Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus resupply spacecraft is seen on Pad-0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, on Aug. 7, 2021.
Northrop Grumman will launch a Cygnus cargo ship to the space station today. Here's how to watch live.

By Amy Thompson Published

NASA and Northrop Grumman are teaming up to launch a cargo capsule to the International Space Station today (Aug. 10) at 5:56 p.m. EDT (2156 GMT).

International Space Station
A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus resupply spacecraft is seen at sunrise on Pad-0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, on Aug. 7, 2021.
Blobs in space and other cool science launching to the space station Tuesday

By Amy Thompson Published

Northrop Grumman's next Cygnus cargo ship will launch on a journey to the International Space Station tomorrow carrying with it a bevy of research investigations and crew supplies.

International Space Station
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson spoke at the beginning of a flight readiness review for OFT-2 held on July 22, 2021.
NASA chief excited for Starliner launch, touts importance of competition

By Amy Thompson Published

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is ready to cheer on the launch of Boeing's Starliner crew capsule on a vital uncrewed test flight this week.

Space Exploration
SpaceX's net-equipped boat, Mr. Steven, cruises off the California coast. SpaceX used the speedy boat to try to catch falling payload fairings, each of which costs $6 million to make.
SpaceX retires giant net boats that caught rocket nose cones

By Amy Thompson Published

SpaceX has retired its two rocket nose-cone-catching boats with their giant arms and nets.

Space Exploration
SpaceX's drone ship Of Course I Still Love You is seen in Port Canaveral, Florida in 2015 as it entered service as an East Coast rocket landing pad for Falcon 9 launches.
SpaceX drone ship moves to California for West Coast rocket landings

By Amy Thompson Published

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket landing pad drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" has moved to California for West Coast launches.

Technology
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the Transporter-2 rideshare mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, on June 30, 2021.
SpaceX launches 88 satellites into orbit and nails rocket landing

By Amy Thompson Published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched 88 satellites into orbit and aced a landing in Florida on Wednesday (June 30).

Satellites
The uncrewed Cygnus NG-15 cargo vessel departed the International Space Station on June 29, 2021.
Northrop Grumman's Cygnus cargo ship departs space station to begin new mission in orbit

By Amy Thompson Published

A Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo spacecraft successfully undocked from the International Space Station Tuesday, more than four months after it arrived in orbit.

International Space Station
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the Transporter-1 rideshare mission with a record 143 small satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Jan. 24, 2021. The company has delayed the June 25 launch of Transporter-2.
SpaceX delays launch of Transporter-2 rideshare mission on Falcon 9 rocket

By Amy Thompson Published

SpaceX has postponed the launch of its next rideshare mission Transporter-2 to allow more time for rocket checks.

Launches & Spacecraft
A view of the core stage positioned in between its two solid rocket boosters, that will give the heavy lifter an extra kick on liftoff.
NASA's new moon rocket, the Space Launch System, takes shape in giant hangar

By Amy Thompson Published

NASA's next megarocket, the Space Launch System (SLS) is coming together ahead of its first planned launch later this year.

Artemis
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the GPS III SV05 satellite for the U.S. Space Force launches from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on June 17, 2021.
SpaceX launches advanced GPS satellite for US Space Force, sticks rocket landing at sea

By Amy Thompson Published

SpaceX successfully launched an advanced GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force and nailed a rocket landing at sea on Thursday (June 17).

Satellites
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the GPS III SV04 satellite for the U.S. Space Force stands atop Space Launch Complex 40 of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida for an October 2020 launch.
You can watch SpaceX launch a new GPS satellite for the US Space Force today. Here's how.

By Amy Thompson Published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a new GPS navigation satellite for the U.S. military today (June 17) and you can watch it live online.

Satellites
A Northrop Grumman Minotaur 1 rocket carrying three classified payloads for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office launches from Pad 0B of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island, Virginia on June 16, 2021.
Minotaur 1 rocket launches 3 classified spy satellites for National Reconnaissance Office

By Amy Thompson Published

A Minotaur 1 rocket blasted off from the Eastern Shore of Virginia Tuesday morning (June 15), heading to orbit with three secret spacecraft for the U.S. government's spy satellite agency.

Satellites
A Minotaur 1 rocket stands ready to launch the NROL-111 mission on Pad 0B at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia.
Watch a Minotaur 1 rocket launch a classified US spy satellite today

By Amy Thompson Published

Northrop Grumman is set to launch a Minotaur 1 rocket early Tuesday morning (June 15), and you can watch the action live online.

Satellites
An artist's depiction of a human heart.
NASA to name winners of human tissue growth challenge today. Here's how to watch online.

By Amy Thompson Published

NASA is about to announce the winners of its latest Centennial Challenge to grow human tissue in a lab, and you can watch the action live online.

Technology
United Launch Alliance delayed the launch of its STP 3 mission.
United Launch Alliance delays Atlas V rocket launch for US Space Force

By Amy Thompson Published

United Launch Alliance (ULA)'s next Atlas V launch will have to wait a little longer as the liftoff has been delayed, the company announced Friday (June 5).

Private Spaceflight
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Sirius XM satellite SXM-8 lights up the midnight sky early June 6, 2021 as it launched from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX rocket launches Sirius XM digital radio satellite, nails nighttime landing at sea

By Amy Thompson Published

SpaceX launched a veteran Falcon 9 rocket on its third trip to space Sunday (June 6) to carry a massive radio satellite into orbit for Sirius XM.

Satellites
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Sirius XM satellite SXM-8 stands atop Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida on June 5, 2021, one day ahead of its planned launch.
SpaceX will launch a new Sirius XM satellite early Sunday. Here's how to watch online.

By Amy Thompson Published

SpaceX will launch a broadband satellite for Sirius-XM early Sunday (June 6) and you can watch the action live online.

Satellites
The SpaceX CRS-22 Dragon cargo ship approaches the International Space Station on June 5, 2021 during docking operations to deliver more than 7,300 lbs. (3,311 kg) of supplies to the orbiting laboratory.
SpaceX Dragon docks at space station to deliver new solar arrays and tons of supplies

By Amy Thompson Published

SpaceX Dragon cargo ship arrived at the International Space Station today (June 5) to deliver new solar arrays and tons of fresh NASA supplies.

International Space Station
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon CRS-22 cargo ship for NASA launches toward the International Space Station from Pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on June 3, 2021.
SpaceX launches new solar arrays to space station, nails rocket landing at sea

By Amy Thompson Published

SpaceX launched its 17th rocket of the year today (June 3), sending a robotic Dragon cargo capsule toward the International Space Station before nailing a landing at sea.

Launches & Spacecraft
A close-up of the SpaceX CRS-22 Dragon cargo ship atop its Falcon 9 rocket on Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center on June 2, 2021, one day ahead of its planned launch.
A SpaceX Dragon will launch fresh NASA supplies to space station today. How to watch live.

By Amy Thompson Published

SpaceX will launch a Dragon spacecraft packed with NASA cargo to the International Space Station today (June 3).

International Space Station
Baby bobtail squid are pictured swimming in seawater shortly after hatching.
SpaceX will launch baby squid and tardigrades to the space station this week

By Amy Thompson Published

SpaceX is gearing up to launch its 22nd cargo mission to the International Space Station this week, and tucked inside the Dragon cargo capsule will be some interesting organisms.

International Space Station
SpaceX's most flown Falcon 9 rocket, the 10-time flier B1051, arrives in Port Canaveral, Florida on May 12, 2021 after launching 60 Starlink satellites into orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on May 9.
SpaceX's most-flown Falcon 9 rocket is a sooty veteran after 10 launches and landings (photos)

By Amy Thompson Published

SpaceX's most-flown rocket, a Falcon 9 booster that has flown a historic 10 times, definitely looks like a veteran traveler.

Launches & Spacecraft
An Arianespace Soyuz rocket launches 36 OneWeb internet satellites on the Launch 7 mission from Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia on May 28, 2021.
Arianespace launches 36 OneWeb internet satellites on Soyuz rocket

By Amy Thompson Published

A Soyuz rocket blasted off from Russia today (May 28), carrying a new clutch of OneWeb internet satellites into orbit.

Space Exploration
NASA astronaut Kayla Barron undergoes spacewalk training.
Rookie NASA astronaut Kayla Barron to fly on SpaceX's Crew-3 mission to space station

By Amy Thompson Published

NASA has selected rookie astronaut Kayla Barron as the fourth crewmember to fly on SpaceX's upcoming Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station.

International Space Station
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the Starlink 28 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, on May 26, 2021.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 60 new Starlink satellites, nails its 2nd drone ship landing at sea

By Amy Thompson Published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a new stack of Starlink internet satellites into orbit Wednesday afternoon (May 26), before sticking a landing at sea to top off the mission.

Satellites
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