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
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 22 Starlink satellites to orbit on June 7, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UCPUkNrSKtkPh9zH5sWep8-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX lands Falcon 9 rocket for 300th time (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX landed one of its Falcon 9 rockets for the 300th time tonight (June 7), notching the milestone during a Starlink satellite launch.
![a white space capsule is seen against the blackness of space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hDDabh2eLC2yFkNB4if66H-320-80.jpg)
Boeing's 1st Starliner to carry astronauts arrives at ISS despite thruster malfunction
By Mike Wall last updated
Boeing's Starliner capsule arrived at the ISS on its second try today (June 6), overcoming a problem with several of its reaction-control system thrusters.
![a large white and black rocket lifts off](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nE4H6LCQJXE77DRsZazoUM-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Starship launches on nail-biting 4th test flight of world's most powerful rocket (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched its giant Starship rocket for the fourth time ever this morning (June 6) in a dramatic and nail-biting liftoff.
![a large silver rocket flies through a golden morning sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UsyVTcvivR63vNJx7NVf6D-320-80.jpg)
Watch SpaceX launch 4th test flight of Starship megarocket today
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX plans to launch its giant Starship rocket this morning (June 6), and you can watch the action live.
![Long-distance photo of a rocket climbing into a blue sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iy6qJiRzeMU3PG33sdqXPa-320-80.jpg)
Watch Boeing's Starliner arrive at ISS today on historic 1st astronaut mission
By Mike Wall published
Boeing's Starliner capsule is scheduled to reach the ISS today (June 6) on its first-ever crewed mission, and you can watch the action live.
![a white rocket launches into a blue sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cAKToVxQGkeszeVnenYCGD-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX congratulates Boeing, ULA on 1st crewed Starliner launch
By Mike Wall published
Elon Musk and SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell both congratulated the coalition that sent Boeing's Starliner capsule aloft today (June 5) on its first crewed mission.
![Starliner launch June 5, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Lj2SMQVWt5BpVa4Kaj3bba-320-80.jpg)
How to watch Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut test flight for NASA online
By Mike Wall last updated
Boeing's Starliner capsule launched astronauts for the first time ever on June 5 after an abort on June 1. Here's how to watch the entire mission online.
![A rocket launch carves an orange arc into a dark night sky in this long-exposure photo.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f5R4B9aCk6gqFa3mK26oZF-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 20 Starlink satellites, including 13 direct-to-cell craft (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites on June 4, including 13 that can beam service directly to smartphones.
![a black and white rocket launches into a cloudy sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PaiybCJbJbJzRTmTFw5R2d-320-80.jpg)
Rocket Lab launches 2nd shoebox-sized climate satellite for NASA (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Rocket Lab launched the second of two cubesats for NASA's PREFIRE climate change mission on Tuesday night (June 4).
![closeup of a silver telescope in space, with earth in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UCJ5v46qfprccNzNo7ej7n-320-80.png)
The Hubble Space Telescope is old. Here's NASA's new plan to keep it alive through 2035
By Mike Wall published
The Hubble Space Telescope will soon go into one-gyroscope mode, a move that will decrease the iconic observatory's productivity but give it margin for the future.
![a giant rocket stands on a launch pad with the setting sun in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CYsYR6FjqkVudW7ThfGUyT-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX targeting June 6 for next launch of Starship megarocket (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX plans to launch its huge Starship rocket on Thursday (June 6), provided it clears the required regulatory hurdles.
![A depiction of China's Chang'e 6 moon lander on the far side of the moon after landing on June 2, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wA8NxDPaGAqZeq43qEtvCe-320-80.jpg)
China lands Chang'e 6 sample-return probe on far side of the moon, a lunar success (video)
By Mike Wall published
China's robotic Chang'e 6 mission aced its landing on the moon's far side Saturday (June 1) and will soon collect samples to send home to Earth.
![A Russian Progress 88 cargo ship with solar arrays unfurled and the blue Earth in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SGoiCLH5QerUi9xsARj5C3-320-80.png)
Russian Progress 88 cargo ship docks at ISS carrying tons of fresh supplies
By Mike Wall last updated
Russia's robotic Progress 88 cargo craft arrived at the International Space Station Saturday morning (June 1) to deliver nearly 3 tons of fresh supplies.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 23 Starlink internet satellites into orbit from Florida on May 31, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PBVwc4BJGMWa4UfpV8h5Qa-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites into orbit from Florida in late-night liftoff (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launch another batch of its Starlink broadband satellites from Florida tonight (May 31), adding to a very busy stretch in spaceflight.
![a brown and white rocket carrying a white space capsule rolls out of an assembly building toward the launch pad](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/782U9Gma3GzPPWAqwgtvmk-320-80.jpg)
Boeing's Starliner rolls out to pad for June 1 astronaut launch (photos)
By Mike Wall published
Boeing's Starliner capsule rolled out to the pad today (May 30) ahead of its first-ever astronaut launch, which is scheduled for June 1.
![The Progress 88 freighter launches on its journey to the International Space Station on Thursday (May 30)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZhZ6BkWpikKuRkzfChUKXD-320-80.png)
Russian Soyuz rocket launches tons of supplies to ISS on Progress 88 cargo ship (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Russia launched the robotic Progress 88 freighter toward the International Space Station early on Thursday (May 30).
![a brown and white rocket stands next to its launch tower at night](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GSTdUcuVZZdEk3tYPncDzV-320-80.jpg)
Boeing Starliner capsule's 1st astronaut mission cleared for June 1 liftoff
By Mike Wall published
The first-ever astronaut launch of Boeing's Starliner capsule, known as Crew Flight Test, is "go" for its planned June 1 launch, NASA announced today (May 29).
![top-down view of a big silver rocket with white vapor billowing from its base](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/doz8wtc3oMJ5SmGwJfDJFk-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX fuels Starship megarocket again to prep for test flight (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX fueled up its Starship rocket again on Tuesday (May 28), continuing preparations for the giant vehicle's upcoming test flight.
![a spacecraft orbits earth with the blackness of space in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HSGiFxCufv7EVdqy3ywfYR-320-80.jpg)
Robotic Russian cargo ship leaves the ISS, burns up in Earth's atmosphere (photo)
By Mike Wall published
Russia's uncrewed Progress 86 cargo craft departed the International Space Station early Tuesday morning (May 28), ending a six-month orbital stay.
![an astronaut in a white spacesuit works outside a space station with earth in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VX54cFQqzzoBowwPvvu6XH-320-80.jpg)
Chinese astronauts perform record-breaking spacewalk outside Tiangong space station (video)
By Mike Wall published
Two Chinese astronauts spent about 8.5 hours outside the Tiangong space station today (May 28), setting a new spacewalk-duration record for the country.
![a rocket lifting off into space between launch towers with blue sky in behind](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZZ4JPbHcobxSUpvSEkuoik-320-80.png)
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites from Florida on May 28
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched yet another batch of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida on Tuesday morning (May 28).
![a black-and-white rocket launches into a night sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c7Dh6Ef2Bnvbts8EAYzMWn-320-80.jpg)
Rocket Lab launches NASA cubesat to study heat lost from Earth's poles (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Rocket Lab launched the first of two satellites for NASA's PREFIRE climate change mission early Saturday morning (May 25).
![a silver rocket stands next to a huge metallic launch tower, with the ocean in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Fizi9pdTLLfHYvqsVj5ngV-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX targeting June 5 for 4th test flight of Starship megarocket
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX aims to launch its huge Starship vehicle for the fourth time ever as early as June 5, provided the necessary regulatory approvals come through.