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
SpaceX launches advanced weather satellite for US Space Force (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched a mission for the U.S. Space Force April 11, sending aloft an advanced environment-monitoring satellite.
Could these big expandable habitats help humanity settle the moon and Mars?
By Mike Wall published
Max Space is building habitat modules that could expand to enormous sizes in space, giving humanity plenty of room to live in orbit as well as on the moon and Mars.
China moving at 'breathtaking speed' in final frontier, Space Force says
By Mike Wall published
China is ratcheting up its space capabilities at an impressive clip, with an eye toward potentially ending the United States’ long-held space supremacy, U.S. officials say.
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites in nighttime liftoff (photos, video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida early Wednesday morning (April 10).
Astrobotic to launch mini rover along with NASA's ice-hunting VIPER on next moon mission
By Mike Wall published
Astrobotic's next moon mission will send not one but two rovers to Earth's nearest neighbor.
SpaceX rocket launches 11 satellites, including one for South Korea, on Bandwagon-1 rideshare flight (photos)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX is set to launch 11 satellites on the Bandwagon-1 rideshare mission tonight (April 7) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites into orbit from California in sunset liftoff (photos, video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX successfully launched 21 more of its Starlink broadband satellites on late Saturday (April 6) from seaside base in California.
SpaceX fires up huge Super Heavy booster ahead of 4th Starship test flight (photos, video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX conducted an engine test with its latest Super Heavy booster on Friday (April 5), readying the giant vehicle for the next Starship launch.
SpaceX launches 23 satellites on 1st leg of Starlink doubleheader
By Mike Wall published
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 23 Starlink broadband satellites this morning (April 5) on the first leg of a spaceflight doubleheader for the company.
SpaceX moves Super Heavy booster to pad ahead of 4th Starship flight (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX has moved its giant Super Heavy booster to the pad for testing ahead of the next Starship test flight, which could launch as soon as May.
Blue Origin will launch Ed Dwight, the 1st-ever Black astronaut candidate, to space on next New Shepard rocket flight
By Mike Wall published
The six-person crew of Blue Origin's seventh human spaceflight includes Ed Dwight, who was picked in 1961 to be the nation's first black astronaut candidate.
NASA picks 3 companies to design lunar rover for Artemis astronauts to drive on the moon
By Mike Wall published
NASA has selected three companies to develop their versions of a rover that Artemis astronauts will start driving on the moon in 2030.
NASA to pick new moon car for Artemis astronauts today: Watch it live
By Mike Wall published
NASA will announce the company, or companies, it has selected to develop the rover for its Artemis moon program during a press conference today (April 3), and you can watch it live.
Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut launch delayed again, to May 6
By Mike Wall published
The first crewed launch of Boeing's new Starliner capsule has been delayed by an additional five days, to May 6.
Chinese space junk falls to Earth over Southern California, creating spectacular fireball (photos, video)
By Mike Wall published
A big piece of Chinese space junk fell to Earth over Southern California early Tuesday morning (April 2), putting on quite a show for observers in the Golden State.
SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites from California (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites on Monday (April 1), after a multi-day delay.
Spaceflight doubleheader! SpaceX launches 2 rockets in 4-hour span (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched two Falcon 9 rockets today (March 30) from Florida less than five hours apart.
Final launch of Delta IV Heavy rocket scrubbed late in countdown
By Mike Wall published
ULA scrubbed the last planned liftoff of its Delta Heavy IV rocket on March 28 late in the countdown clock. The new target date is April 9.
Still alive! Japan's SLIM moon lander survives its 2nd lunar night (photo)
By Mike Wall published
The SLIM spacecraft, Japan's first successful moon lander, has survived its second long, cold lunar night.
Artemis astronauts will carry plants to the moon in 2026
By Mike Wall published
NASA has selected three experiments, including a plant-growth study, to be deployed by astronauts on the moon on the Artemis 3 mission in 2026.
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites from Florida (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 23 more of the company's Starlink broadband satellites to orbit this evening (March 25).
SpaceX fires up Starship rocket ahead of 4th test flight (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX fired the engines on the upper stage of its next Starship vehicle, performing a key test ahead of the giant rocket's fourth test flight.
Intuitive Machines' private Odysseus moon lander has 'permanently faded' on lunar surface as historic mission ends
By Mike Wall published
Intuitive Machines' Odysseus moon lander has failed to send out a wakeup signal, confirming that its pioneering mission is over.