Mike Wall

America at 500: Where will we be in space in 2276?

By Mike Wall Published 3 July 26

When the U.S. was born, humanity was still seven years away from balloon-borne flight. Where might we be another 250 years from now, should the nation be fortunate enough to survive that long?

Atlas V rocket launches 29 Amazon Leo broadband satellites to orbit from Florida (video)

By Mike Wall Last updated 2 July 26

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launched 29 more Amazon Leo internet satellites to orbit from Florida early Thursday morning (July 2).

NASA will send a soccer ball to the moon — if the US wins the World Cup

By Mike Wall Published 1 July 26

NASA will send a soccer ball to the moon if the United States wins the FIFA World Cup, agency chief Jared Isaacman said on Tuesday (June 30).

Rocket Lab aborts launch of Japanese Earth-observing radar satellite at last second

By Mike Wall Last updated 1 July 26

Rocket Lab tried to launch its eighth mission for the Japanese Earth-imaging company iQPS on Thursday (June 30), but the attempt ended in an abort.

Blue Origin starts rebuilding launch pad damaged by New Glenn rocket explosion — and it will look very different when it's done 

By Mike Wall Published 30 June 26

Blue Origin has started rebuilding the launch pad damaged by the explosion of its New Glenn rocket last month, but the company is working from a very different blueprint this time around.

NASA will announce moon base news today: Watch it live

By Mike Wall Published 30 June 26

NASA will provide an update about its moon base plans this afternoon, and you can watch it live.

Watch 2 NASA astronauts fix ISS' huge robotic arm during spacewalk today

By Mike Wall Published 29 June 26

NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir will fix the International Space Station's Canadarm2 during a spacewalk today (June 30), and you can watch the action live.

SpaceX launches 15,000-pound SiriusXM satellite to orbit from Florida (video)

By Mike Wall Last updated 29 June 26

SpaceX launched a big SiriusXM radio satellite to orbit from Florida's Space Coast tonight (June 28).

Another 'Star' is born: SpaceX names AI megaconstellation 'Starmind'

By Mike Wall Published 25 June 26

SpaceX will call its planned AI megaconstellation "Starmind," continuing the company's stellar naming theme.

SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites to orbit from California (video)

By Mike Wall Last updated 25 June 26

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched two dozen Starlink satellites to orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Wednesday night (June 24).

'Everybody wanted to be the first': Apollo astronauts were more competitive, Artemis 2 pilot says

By Mike Wall Published 24 June 26

NASA's Artemis moon program differs from Apollo in many ways, including the attitudes of its astronauts.

What is Starfall? A look at SpaceX's mysterious new return capsule

By Mike Wall Published 23 June 26

SpaceX just launched its Starfall return capsule for the first time. What does the company plan to do with the new vehicle?

Launch monster: SpaceX has lofted more satellites than everyone else in history, combined

By Mike Wall Published 22 June 26

SpaceX has now launched more satellites than the rest of humanity combined — and the gap will continue to widen over time.

SpaceX launches new batch of US spy satellites from California (video)

By Mike Wall Last updated 19 June 26

SpaceX launched the latest batch of spy satellites for the U.S. government early Friday morning (June 19).

Home again! SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule splashes down off California coast

By Mike Wall Last updated 17 June 26

A SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft returned to Earth today (June 17), ending its monthlong mission to the International Space Station.

European rocket launches record-breaking mission with Amazon internet satellites (video)

By Mike Wall Last updated 17 June 26

An Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket launched a record-breaking load to orbit early Wednesday morning (June 17), carrying a batch of Amazon Leo satellites to orbit.

SpaceX launches 3 huge BlueBird direct-to-cell satellites from Florida (video)

By Mike Wall Last updated 17 June 26

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched three of AST SpaceMobile's giant BlueBird direct-to-cell satellites early Wednesday morning (June 17).

NASA discussing bold mission to boost Swift space telescope today: Listen live

By Mike Wall Published 17 June 26

NASA will discuss an ambitious mission to boost the orbit of its Swift space telescope during a press conference today (June 17), and you can listen to it live.

Watch NASA reveal its Artemis 3 astronauts today (and get a live moon program update)

By Mike Wall Last updated 9 June 26

On June 9, NASA will reveal the astronauts who will fly on the Artemis 3 docking mission in Earth orbit next year.

Going supersonic! NASA's X-59 jet breaks sound barrier for the 1st time

By Mike Wall Published 5 June 26

NASA's X-59 jet broke the sound barrier for the first time on Friday (June 5), reaching a top speed of about Mach 1.1.

Astronauts on International Space Station take shelter in SpaceX Dragon as cosmonauts try to fix air leak

By Mike Wall Published 5 June 26

ISS astronauts briefly sheltered aboard an attached SpaceX Dragon capsule today (June 5) while cosmonauts tried to fix a persistent leak on the Russian side of the orbiting lab.

$1.77 trillion! SpaceX is about to become the 7th-most valuable American company

By Mike Wall Published 5 June 26

SpaceX will sell its shares for $135 apiece during its IPO, yielding a valuation of $1.77 trillion.

NASA's dead Mars orbiter MAVEN will crash into the Red Planet in the next 100 years. It's not the only probe in the Mars morgue

By Mike Wall Published 4 June 26

NASA just declared its MAVEN Mars orbiter dead after a dozen productive years circling the Red Planet. Here's the fate that awaits the probe.

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is not an alien spacecraft: SETI hunt for 'technosignatures' comes up empty

By Mike Wall Published 4 June 26

Scientists failed to find radio signals emanating from the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, further bolstering its status as a natural object, not one made by aliens.

China launches debut mission of Falcon 9-like rocket with no advance notice (video)

By Mike Wall Published 2 June 26

China launched its partially reusable Long March 12B rocket for the first time ever on Monday (June 1), sending it up without issuing airspace closure notices ahead of time.