
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

Russia launches Progress 92 cargo ship toward the ISS
By Mike Wall last updated
A Russian Progress cargo spacecraft launched toward the International Space Station this afternoon (July 3), hauling several tons of cargo to the orbiting lab.

SpaceX launches advanced European weather satellite, lands rocket at sea (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the MTG-S1 weather satellite for EUMETSAT today (July 1), then came back down to Earth for a landing on a ship at sea.

US set new record with 21 commercial launches in June, FAA says
By Mike Wall published
American companies launched 21 commercial space missions in June 2025, which was a new record for a single month, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

SpaceX Axiom-4 mission to the ISS: Live updates
By Mike Wall, Josh Dinner last updated
Read the latest news about SpaceX's Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station.

Watch Blue Origin to launch 6 people to suborbital space today on NS-33 spaceflight
By Mike Wall last updated
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin plans to launch six people to suborbital space on the NS-33 mission June 29, after local weather conditions in West Texas delayed previous attempts.

Rocket Lab launches 'Symphony of the Stars' mission
By Mike Wall last updated
Rocket Lab launched a satellite for a confidential customer early Saturday morning (June 28).

'Space chocolate,' mango nectar and pierogis: Here are the international foods the private Ax-4 astronauts are flying to the ISS
By Mike Wall published
The four astronauts of the private Ax-4 mission to the ISS represent four different countries, so the food they're carrying up has a very international flavor.

Off-Earth footprint: Florida company will design shoe in space in 2026
By Mike Wall published
Humanity will soon take another step toward establishing an off-Earth economy, if all goes according to plan for the Florida-based shoe company Syntilay.

SpaceX launching private Ax-4 astronaut mission to ISS early June 25: Watch live!
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX is planning to launch the Ax-4 private astronaut mission early Wednesday, June 25, kicking off a two-week stint aboard the ISS.

SpaceX launches human remains, reentry capsules and more on Transporter 14 rideshare mission (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched 70 different payloads — including a special memorial capsule carrying cremated remains and DNA samples — today (June 23) on the Transporter 14 rideshare mission.

Atlas V rocket launches 2nd batch of satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper megaconstellation (video)
By Mike Wall published
A powerful Atlas V rocket lifted off from Florida's Space Coast today (June 23), carrying 27 satellites aloft for Amazons' new Project Kuiper broadband network.

SpaceX traces Starship test-stand explosion to failure of pressurized nitrogen tank
By Mike Wall published
The giant explosion that destroyed a SpaceX Starship vehicle on the test stand this week was likely caused by the failure of a pressurized nitrogen tank, the company said.

SpaceX's Starship explodes in Texas during preparations for 10th test flight
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's newest Starship vehicle exploded on a stand in Texas late Wednesday night (June 18), as it was being prepped for the program's 10th-ever test flight.

Firefly Aerospace to launch 'Ocula' moon-imaging service as early as 2026
By Mike Wall published
Firefly Aerospace plans to launch a new "lunar imaging service" called Ocula, which will collect detailed imagery using a set of moon-orbiting spacecraft.

Blue Origin reveals passengers for 13th space tourism launch
By Mike Wall published
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin has revealed the six people who will fly on the company's 13th space tourism mission, though a launch date has not yet been announced.

SpaceX launch of private Ax-4 astronauts postponed indefinitely due to leaky ISS module
By Mike Wall published
The launch of Axiom Space's fourth private astronaut mission has been delayed again, this time by a leaky Russian module on the International Space Station.

Rocket Lab launches Japanese Earth-observing radar satellite to orbit
By Mike Wall published
Rocket Lab launched an Earth-observing radar satellite to orbit for the Japanese company iQPS on Wednesday morning (June 11).

Propellant leak delays SpaceX launch of private Ax-4 astronaut mission to the ISS
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX is standing down from the planned June 11 launch of the Ax-4 private astronaut mission due to a liquid oxygen leak in its Falcon 9 rocket. No new target date has been announced.

2nd launch of Blue Origin's powerful New Glenn rocket delayed to Aug. 15 at the earliest
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin is now targeting Aug. 15 at the earliest for the second-ever launch of its New Glenn rocket, a slip of several months.

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites to orbit on 70th Falcon 9 flight of the year (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched 26 Starlink satellites to orbit from California on Sunday (June 8), on the 70th mission of 2025 for the company's Falcon 9 rocket.

SpaceX fires up Super Heavy booster ahead of Starship's 10th test flight (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX conducted a static-fire test with one of its Super Heavy boosters today (June 6), part of the prep work for the next test flight of the Starship megarocket.

SpaceX launches Sirius XM radio satellite to orbit, lands rocket on ship at sea (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched the SXM-10 satellite for SiriusXM early Saturday morning (June 7), adding another spacecraft to the company's broadcasting constellation.

Private Japanese spacecraft crashes into moon in 'hard landing,' ispace says
By Mike Wall last updated
Japan's private Resilience lunar lander went dark just before it was scheduled to touch down on the moon today (June 5), raising doubts about the venture's success.
Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!