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

Europe's Vega C rocket launches advanced Korean Earth-observation satellite to orbit (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Europe's Vega C rocket launched for the sixth time ever today (Dec. 1), sending South Korea's powerful KOMPSAT-7 Earth-observation satellite to orbit.

Watch NASA astronaut, 2 cosmonauts launch to the International Space Station on Thanksgiving morning
By Mike Wall published
NASA's Chris Williams and two cosmonaut colleagues will launch to the International Space Station early on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27), and you can watch the action live.

South Korea launches Earth-observation satellite on homegrown Nuri rocket
By Mike Wall published
South Korea lofted the CAS500-3 Earth-observation satellite and a dozen ride-along cubesats Wednesday (Nov. 26) on the fourth-ever launch of its Nuri rocket.

Trump administration targets former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly over 'illegal orders' video
By Mike Wall published
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a former NASA astronaut, is under investigation for his participation in a short video reminding members of the U.S. military not to obey illegal orders.

Watch China's Shenzhou 22 rescue ship arrive at Tiangong space station (video)
By Mike Wall published
China's uncrewed Shenzhou 22 spacecraft arrived at the Tiangong space station early Tuesday morning (Nov. 25), giving the three astronauts living there a safe way to get home.

China launches uncrewed Shenzhou capsule for 3 astronauts stuck on Tiangong space station (video)
By Mike Wall published
China launched its Shenzhou 22 mission tonight (Nov. 24), sending up an uncrewed spacecraft to be the ride home for the three astronauts currently living on the Tiangong space station.

'We were genuinely astonished': This moss survived 9 months outside the International Space Station and could still grow on Earth
By Mike Wall published
"This study demonstrates the astonishing resilience of life that originated on Earth."

Rocket Lab launches mystery satellite for 'confidential commercial customer' (video)
By Mike Wall published
Rocket Lab launched a satellite for a "confidential commercial customer" on Thursday morning (Nov. 20), just a few hours after giving notice of the impending liftoff.

SpaceX launches the 100th mission of the year from Florida's Space Coast (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched 29 of its Starlink internet satellites tonight (Nov. 20), on the 100th mission of the year to take off from Florida's Space Coast.

Rocket returned, lightly used: Why Blue Origin's landed New Glenn booster is so clean
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket remained strikingly clean and white after two trips through Earth's atmosphere last week. Here's why the booster stayed largely char-free.

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin will build a 'super heavy' version of its powerful New Glenn rocket
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin plans to build an even more powerful version of its partially reusable New Glenn rocket, which aced its second-ever launch just last week.

Senate to hold hearing for billionaire Jared Isaacman's re-nomination as NASA chief on Dec. 3
By Mike Wall published
The U.S. Senate will hold a hearing on Dec. 3 to consider the re-nomination of billionaire tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman as NASA chief.

Rocket Lab launches hypersonic test flight for US military (photo)
By Mike Wall published
Rocket Lab launched its HASTE suborbital vehicle for the sixth time ever on Tuesday (Nov. 18), sending several test payloads up for the U.S. military.

Private mission to save NASA space telescope will launch in 2026 on a rocket dropped from a plane
By Mike Wall published
Katalyst Space Technologies will use Northrop Grumman's air-launched Pegasus rocket for its upcoming mission, which will send a spacecraft to boost the orbit of NASA's Swift space telescope.

Watch NASA unveil new images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS live today. Here's how
By Mike Wall last updated
The big reveal will come Wednesday (Nov. 19) at 3 p.m. ET.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket streaks into Florida's night sky carrying Starlink satellites to orbit (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites in a nighttime liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday (Nov. 18).

SpaceX launches used rocket for 500th time, sends Sentinel-6B ocean-mapping satellite to orbit (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched the Sentinel-6B ocean-mapping satellite from California early Monday morning (Nov. 17) on a landmark flight — the company's 500th orbital mission with a used rocket.

Watch Blue Origin's huge New Glenn rocket ace its epic landing on a ship at sea (video)
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin's powerful New Glenn rocket just aced its second-ever mission — and returned to Earth safely for the first time. See a video of the booster's dramatic homecoming here.

SpaceX launches 2 rockets less than 4 hours apart from Florida's Space Coast (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched two Falcon 9 rockets in less than four hours overnight Friday (Nov. 14), adding another 58 satellites to its Starlink broadband megaconstellation.

China's Shenzhou 21 astronauts are stranded aboard the Tiangong space station — for now
By Mike Wall published
The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou 21 mission currently have no safe way to get home from the Tiangong space station in the event of an emergency. But that situation is likely to change soon.

Next stop, not Mars: Why NASA's twin ESCAPADE probes are taking the long way to the Red Planet after Blue Origin launch
By Mike Wall published
NASA's twin ESCAPADE Mars probes are on their way to the Red Planet — but it's a circuitous route with a year-long layover.

China's Shenzhou 20 astronauts return to Earth on different spacecraft after finding window cracks in their own (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou 20 mission headed back to Earth today (Nov. 13) after a week-long delay caused by a debris strike on their spacecraft.

Atlas V rocket launches huge communications satellite to orbit (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A United Launch Alliance Altas V rocket launched the powerful and hefty ViaSat-3 F2 satellite on Thursday night (Nov. 13).
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