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

From left to right, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet pose for a photo after arriving at the Launch and Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April 16, 2021. The quartet will go to the space station on SpaceX’s Crew-2 mission, which is scheduled to launch on April 22.

Crew-2 astronauts arrive in Florida ahead of SpaceX launch next week

By Amy Thompson published

A crew of four astronauts arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida Friday (April 16) in advance of SpaceX's second operational astronaut launch for NASA under its commercial crew program.

Human Spaceflight
SpaceX's Crew-2 astronauts. From the left, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, NASA astronauts Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough and JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide.

Meet Crew-2: The 4 space-bound astronauts launching aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon

By Amy Thompson published

Human Spaceflight
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the South Korean military communications satellite Anasis-II stands atop Space Launch Complex 40 of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida for a July 20, 2020 launch.

SpaceX will launch new Starlink satellites on a veteran rocket today. Here's how how to watch.

By Amy Thompson last updated

SpaceX will launch a new fleet of Starlink satellites (April 7) and you can watch the liftoff live online.

Satellites
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 60 Starlink internet satellites lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on April 7, 2021.

SpaceX launches another 60 Starlink satellites into orbit and sticks rocket landing

By Amy Thompson published

SpaceX launched another 60 Starlink internet satellites into orbit and nailed the landing of a veteran Falcon 9 rocket on Wednesday (April 7).

Satellites
The three Raptor engines on SpaceX's SN11 prototype firing during the launch on March 30, 2021.

SpaceX launches Starship SN11 rocket prototype, but misses landing

By Amy Thompson last updated

SpaceX launched its newest Starship rocket prototype today (March 30), but something went wrong as the vehicle headed down to land.

Launches & Spacecraft
SpaceX's most-flown Falcon 9 rocket returned to Port Canaveral in Cape Canaveral, Florida on March 16, 2021 after a record 9th launch two days earlier.

See SpaceX's most-flown rocket returns to home port after 9th flight (photos)

By Amy Thompson published

SpaceX's most-flown rocket, a Falcon 9 booster that has flown a historic nine times has returned home to Florida's Port Canaveral.

Launches & Spacecraft
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 60 Starlink internet satellites launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in a predawn liftoff on March 24, 2021.

SpaceX launches 60 new Starlink internet satellites, nails latest rocket landing at sea

By Amy Thompson published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a new batch of 60 Starlink internet satellites into orbit early Wednesday (March 24) and nailed a landing at sea.

Satellites
SpaceX will launch 60 Starlink internet satellites into orbit on March 24, 2021 using a veteran Falcon 9 rocket, seen here during preparations for an earlier GPS satellite launch for the U.S. Space Force in June 2020.

SpaceX will launch a new Starlink fleet before sunrise Wednesday. Here's how to watch.

By Amy Thompson last updated

SpaceX will launch its next fleet of Starlink satellites into orbit for the company's broadband megaconstellation on Wednesday (March 24).

Private Spaceflight
The four main engines of NASA's first Space Launch System core booster are gimbaled during a hot fire test on March 18, 2021.

NASA fires up its 1st SLS megarocket for moon flights in a critical engine test

By Amy Thompson last updated

NASA's first Space Launch System megarocket to launch an Artemis mission to the moon fired up its core booster in a critical engine test Thursday (March 18).

Artemis
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Florida on Feb. 15, 2021, during a successful Starlink launch; however, the company lost the booster when it failed to touch down on the waiting drone ship.

SpaceX lost a rocket in the ocean last month. Here's why.

By Amy Thompson last updated

SpaceX has traced last month's loss of a flight-proven booster to an in-flight engine shutdown, according to a top company official.

Launches & Spacecraft
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 60 Starlink internet satellites into orbit from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida as it makes a record 9th trip to space on March 14, 2021.

SpaceX just launched a Falcon 9 rocket on a record 9th flight and stuck the landing

By Amy Thompson last updated

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a new batch of 60 Starlink internet satellites into orbit early Sunday (March 14) and nailed its landing at sea to top off a record-setting mission.

Launches & Spacecraft
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches Starlink internet satellites into orbit from NASA's Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 20, 2021. The same rocket first stage will launch on a record 9th flight on March 14, 2021.

SpaceX to attempt record 9th flight of a Falcon 9 rocket with Starlink launch on Sunday

By Amy Thompson last updated

SpaceX is gearing up to launch a third batch of Starlink satellites in as many weeks on Sunday (March 14) and you can watch the action live online.

Launches & Spacecraft
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 60 of the company's Starlink internet satellites to orbit from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on March 11, 2021.

SpaceX launches 60 new Starlink satellites to orbit, nails rocket landing at sea

By Amy Thompson last updated

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a new batch of 60 Starlink internet satellites to orbit early this morning (March 11) and nailed its landing on a floating platform at sea.

Satellites
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch 60 Starlink satellites will launch from Space Launch Complex 40 of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on March 9, 2020. The rocket's first stage, shown here during a July 2020 launch for South Korea, is making its sixth flight.

SpaceX will launch its next Starlink satellite fleet Thursday and you can watch it live

By Amy Thompson last updated

SpaceX is gearing up to launch its second Starlink mission of the month Thursday (March 11) and you can watch it live.

Satellites
SpaceX's Starlink 17 mission lifts off on a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on March 4, 2021.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches and lands for 8th time, delivering 60 Starlink satellites to orbit

By Amy Thompson last updated

Satellites
The first stage of this Falcon 9 rocket, seen here in 2018 awaiting the launch of a Telstar 18 Vantage mission, will launch on its eight flight on March 4, 2021 to carry 60 Starlink internet satellites to orbit.

A SpaceX rocket will launch a Starlink satellite fleet tonight and you can watch it live. Here's how.

By Amy Thompson published

SpaceX will launch its next batch of Starlink satellites on Tuesday (March 2) and you can watch it live online.

Satellites
A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket and Cygnus NG-15 cargo resupply spacecraft stand ready for launch at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, on Feb. 16, 2021. The NG-15 mission is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on Saturday, Feb. 20.

Northrop Grumman will launch a Cygnus cargo craft to the space station today. Watch it live!

By Amy Thompson last updated

NASA and Northrop Grumman are teaming up to launch a cargo capsule to the International Space Station (ISS) today (Feb. 20) and you can watch the action live online.

International Space Station
A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying the uncrewed Cygnus NG-15 cargo ship launches from Pad 0A of NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia on Feb. 20, 2021.

Northrop Grumman Antares rocket launches Cygnus cargo ship to space station for NASA

By Amy Thompson published

NASA and Northrop Grumman are teaming up to launch a cargo capsule to the International Space Station (ISS) today (Feb. 20) and you can watch the action live online.

Private Spaceflight
The Antares rocket and Cygnus capsule for the resupply mission dubbed NG-15 on the pad before launch, scheduled for Feb. 20, 2021.

NASA resupply mission prepares for Saturday launch to space station

By Amy Thompson last updated

NASA and Northrop Grumman are set to launch a Cygnus cargo capsule chock-full of research and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday, Feb. 20.

International Space Station
Krispy Kreme will offer a "Mars Doughnut" on Feb 18 to celebrate the landing of NASA's Perseverance Mars rover.

Krispy Kreme makes special ‘Mars Doughnut’ to celebrate Perseverance rover landing

By Amy Thompson published

Krispy Kreme’s Mars Doughnut, available on Thursday (Feb. 18) only, is filled with chocolate creme and dipped in caramel icing that's been dyed to look like the Red Planet.

Mars Rovers
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 60 Starlink internet satellites lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 of Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida at 10:59 p.m. EST on Feb. 15, 2021.

SpaceX launches 60 new Starlink internet satellites into orbit, misses rocket landing

By Amy Thompson published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 60 Starlink internet satellites late Monday (Feb. 15), but failed to stick its landing at sea.

Satellites
A Russian Soyuz rocket launches the uncrewed Progress 77 cargo ship toward the International Space Station from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on Feb. 15, 2021 local time (Feb. 14 EST).

Russia launches fresh Progress cargo ship to International Space Station

By Amy Thompson last updated

A new Russian Progress cargo ship launched into orbit Sunday night (Feb. 14) to deliver cargo to the seven crew members on the International Space Station.

International Space Station
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 60 Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Station in Florida on Feb. 4, 2021.

Watch SpaceX and Russia launch a Valentine's Day rocket doubleheader tonight

By Amy Thompson last updated

SpaceX and Russia's space agency Roscosmos are working towards a Valentine's Day launch doubleheader tonight (Feb. 14).

Launches & Spacecraft
Artist's concept of the Gateway power and propulsion and Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) in orbit around the moon.

NASA picks SpaceX Falcon Heavy to launch 1st Gateway station pieces to the moon

By Amy Thompson published

NASA has selected SpaceX to deliver the first two segments of the moon-orbiting Gateway space station for its upcoming Artemis program, which aims to put astronauts back on the moon.

Launches & Spacecraft
Billionaire Jared Isaacman is announcing contests for two seats on his Inspiration4 private spaceflight on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft during the 2021 Super Bowl on Feb. 7, 2021.

This Super Bowl ad will invite you to join a billionaire's 'Inspiration4' launch on a SpaceX rocket

By Amy Thompson last updated

A commercial directed by Bryce Dallas Howard for billionaire Jared Isaacman's Inspiration4 spaceflight on a SpaceX spacecraft will launch during Super Bowl LV.

Private Spaceflight
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Archives