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
![NASA astronaut Suni Williams holds a mock torch aboard the International Space Station to celebrate the start of the 2024 Summer Olympics.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x9UYFVcNnq5KfoASkokwmm-320-80.jpg)
NASA astronauts hold their own Summer Olympics in space (video)
By Mike Wall published
NASA astronauts held their own mini-Olympics on the International Space Station to mark the start of the Summer Games here on Earth.
![Illustration of a Polaris Dawn crewmember conducting the first-ever private spacewalk.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RcxpQm9zPPNBHC3hTSeepH-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX's historic Polaris Dawn astronaut mission delayed until mid-August
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX is now eyeing mid- to late August for the launch of the Polaris Dawn astronaut mission, which will feature the first-ever private spacewalk.
![A rocket launch carves an orange arc into a dark night sky in this long-exposure photo.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LxVD4FbzunX6Ko9rHYWXGU-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX to bounce back from Falcon 9 failure with Starlink launch early on July 27
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX plans to launch 23 of its Starlink broadband satellites early Saturday morning (July 27), on the company's first mission since a July 11 failure.
![white frost-like material builds up around a cone-shaped rocket nozzle as it glows orange](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eX4dECJAhHCKQvE26NqGua-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX finds cause of Falcon 9 failure, eyes return to flight as soon as July 27
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX has fixed the problem that caused its Falcon 9 rocket to fail during a July 11 launch, according to the company, which is eyeing a July 27 return to flight.
![northern lights appear as dancing ribbons of green in the sky above a snowy mountain top.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oSbdgWMsQqzQX2MEEUP8hd-320-80.jpg)
Where and when to see the northern lights in 2024
By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated
Find out where and when to see the northern lights (aurora borealis) throughout Europe and North America in our helpful guide.
![white frost-like material builds up around a cone-shaped rocket nozzle as it glows orange](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eX4dECJAhHCKQvE26NqGua-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX rocket failure highlights need for multiple launch options: 'Falcon 9 is not invulnerable'
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9 is one of the most reliable and prolific rockets ever flown. But it's not invulnerable, as we saw earlier this month.
![illustration showing seven satellites orbiting earth](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6DCV7Dg7oLmNutso4BkgsL-320-80.jpg)
Florida startup Star Catcher snags $12 million to help develop 1st off-Earth energy grid
By Mike Wall published
Star Catcher Industries just snagged $12.25 million to develop its planned constellation of power-beaming satellites, which will service other orbiting spacecraft.
![Boeing's Starliner capsule is seen docked to the International Space Station during the Crew Test Flight mission in June 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ArrhmNpYrNZAamvJBFCboB-320-80.jpg)
NASA, Boeing discuss Starliner astronaut mission today: Watch the replay
By Mike Wall published
NASA and Boeing will provide an update about the Starliner capsule's ongoing astronaut mission today (July 24), and you can watch it live.
![a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a blue sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7jsntmsZ8APVbcKVGJoPu6-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX wins $113 million contract to launch advanced NOAA climate satellite
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX has won a $113 million contract to launch NOAA's JPSS-4 climate and weather satellite. Liftoff is targeted for 2027.
![long-distance shot of a rocket launching into a cloudy daytime sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sT2Ud2sACjd7YeWB4zwYEQ-320-80.jpeg)
ABL Space System's 2nd RS1 rocket destroyed during preflight testing
By Mike Wall published
A fire at the launch pad shortly after an engine test "caused irrecoverable damage" to ABL Space Systems' second RS1 rocket, the company announced on Monday (July 22).
![illustration of a mars base, with a handful of people inside a domed habitat and a large rocket launching in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Fy5S2ZXbkawA59EfsCDpea-320-80.jpg)
Where will we be in space in 2049? A look at spaceflight over the next 25 years
By Mike Wall published
The next quarter-century in space exploration could be historic, the era in which humanity finally establishes a foothold on the moon and Mars.
![a white rocket launches into a blue sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e9srvwXvpfGzh9ZGcjfC8h-320-80.jpg)
Chinese company iSpace suffers 4th launch failure in 7 tries
By Mike Wall published
iSpace's seventh Hyperbola-1 rocket suffered an anomaly on Wednesday (July 10), dragging the launch company's success rate below 50%.
![A spacecraft seen over a red-streaked world. Jupiter, a striped and swirly looking world, is in the background, offscreen.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ecqPuDPV2CLrciVyPwrgV9-320-80.jpg)
NASA's $5 billion Europa Clipper mission may not be able to handle Jupiter's radiation
By Mike Wall published
NASA is troubleshooting a recently revealed problem with the transistors aboard its $5 billion Europa Clipper spacecraft, which is slated to launch this October.
![view from the top of a rocket in space, looking down toward its firing engines and earth in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L72bWbSHjtSradaH9UddgD-320-80.jpg)
FAA investigating SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket failure
By Mike Wall published
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is requiring an investigation into the failure suffered by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket during a July 11 Starlink satellite launch.
![a large cargo craft with two large solar panels on either side is in the foreground, earth is in the background with clouds and peaks of blue from the south atlantic ocean.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N3FzWpsD4siokZbMp8snR7-320-80.jpg)
Cygnus cargo spacecraft departs the ISS for a fiery re-entry in Earth's atmosphere
By Mike Wall last updated
Northrop Grumman's robotic Cygnus spacecraft departed the International Space Station this morning (July 12).
![closeup of a rocket engine in space, glowing orange, with earth in the background. near the engine is a strange buildup of white material](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eX4dECJAhHCKQvE26NqGua-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket suffers failure during Starlink satellite launch (video)
By Mike Wall published
The upper-stage engine of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket did not perform as planned during a July 11 launch, leading to the impending loss of 20 Starlink satellites.
![view from the top of a rocket in space, looking down at earth](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L72bWbSHjtSradaH9UddgD-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches direct-to-cell Starlink satellites from California after delay (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 20 more of its Starlink satellites, including 13 with direct-to-cell capabilities, from California tonight (July 11).
![The Super Heavy booster for the fifth flight of SpaceX's Starship megarocket rolls out to the launch pad at the Starbase site in South Texas. SpaceX posted this photo on X on July 9, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QqHhVezad2gEwxN9Fzt5NR-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX rolls Starship Super Heavy booster to launch pad ahead of 5th test flight (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX moved its fifth Starship Super Heavy booster to the launch pad in preparation for a coming test flight, which could occur in the next few weeks.
![a large white rocket flies through the sky above a cone of flame](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kzgeG4sg6UUnVFmzDGFsLN-320-80.jpg)
Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket launches on long-awaited debut mission (video)
By Mike Wall published
The new Ariane 6 rocket launched for the first time ever today (July 9), opening a new chapter in European spaceflight history.
![a white rocket on a launch pad beneath cloudy skies](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ezdaG8LDbUnBYgqy92oZTb-320-80.jpg)
Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket launching for 1st time ever today
By Mike Wall last updated
Europe's new heavy-lift Ariane 6 rocket is set to make its long-delayed debut on Tuesday (July 9).
![a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a cloudy sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cPxTUNRVK8FLBaE7XGGNHG-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches Türkiye's 1st homegrown communications satellite to orbit (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched Türkiye's first domestically produced communications satellite today (July 8), sending the craft aloft from Florida's Space Coast.
![four people in black flight suits stand in front of a microphone, with the nasa logo in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f5t2vqQShsueATCBHvKcsa-320-80.jpg)
NASA's 1st year-long mock Mars mission wraps up in Houston
By Mike Wall last updated
Four volunteers exited a mock Mars habitat at NASA's Johnson Space Center on July 6, bringing the agency's first year-long simulated Red Planet mission to an end.
![aerial view of a huge rocket launching from a seaside pad, creating a giant cloud of exhaust and dust](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6p6ap7Y9tHiVDiwiFgExeC-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX's Starship to fly again 'in 4 weeks,' Elon Musk says
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX aims to launch the fifth test flight of its huge Starship rocket just four weeks from now, Elon Musk said.