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 carrying 23 Starlink satellites launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5pTFj3Z8VNT98WksdjNxam-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites on 2nd leg of spaceflight doubleheader (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 23 of its Starlink satellites from Florida on Wednesday (May 22), the second mission in less than 24 hours for the company.
![wide-field telescope view showing dozens of distant galaxies](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/J52vzNW3kc9LofB69tdxvV-320-80.jpg)
Safety first: NASA pledges to use AI carefully and responsibly
By Mike Wall published
NASA will keep safety front of mind while harnessing the ever-growing power of artificial intelligence, agency officials stressed.
![A view from a Falcon 9 rocket as it launches to lift the NROL-146 mission to space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KngBjJNGM3uriLLAorR3Jd-320-80.png)
SpaceX launches next-gen US spy satellites and sticks the landing (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched the first batch of satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office's "proliferated architecture" early Wednesday morning (May 22).
![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 fuels up Starship megarocket ahead of 4th test flight (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX just fueled up its giant Starship rocket, checking another box ahead of the vehicle's fourth test flight.
![an older man in a blue flight suit emerges from a white space capsule with arms raised in triumph](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rxeQTtcrRdVv8bvUCCGSfX-320-80.jpg)
'This was a life-changing experience:' 1st Black astronaut candidate exults after suborbital launch (video)
By Mike Wall published
Ninety-year-old Ed Dwight got to live out his long-delayed spaceflight dream with a suborbital launch this weekend. Here's what he had to say about it.
![a white rocket lifts off from the Texas desert under a blue sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6HMVPfxpUFftpBcG69axmD-320-80.jpg)
Blue Origin launches 1st Black astronaut candidate, age 90, and 5 space tourists on New Shepard rocket (video)
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin sent six people to the final frontier today (May 19) on the company's first crewed spaceflight since August 2022.
![a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a night sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xr39pfa8EiLjPYwZmmHKGZ-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches Starlink satellites on record 21st flight (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched for the 21st time tonight (May 17), setting a new reusability record for the company.
![a white and brown rocket stands vertically next to a tall white building](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Vgm7mRorHQSZMUu3JnxPJW-320-80.jpg)
Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut launch delayed again, to May 25
By Mike Wall published
The first crewed mission of Boeing's new Starliner spacecraft has been pushed back by an additional four days, to May 25.
![a huge black and silver rocket stands amid dunes next to the ocean](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H6rjWnF2LGmccdk2cyfcgH-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX stacks Starship megarocket ahead of 4th test flight (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX stacked its giant Starship rocket ahead of the vehicle's fourth test flight, which could launch just a few weeks from now.
![a smiling woman sitting at a desk signs a document while a standing, smiling woman looks on](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VmPutpNq2jGBByxyELuVMc-320-80.jpg)
Lithuania becomes 40th nation to sign Artemis Accords for moon exploration
By Mike Wall published
Lithuania signed the Artemis Accords on Wednesday (May 15), bringing the number of nations in the moon-exploration pact to 40.
![a white rocket launches into a blue sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7XaRiDfGy9PZrRkQtxJnim-320-80.jpg)
Blue Origin targeting May 19 for 1st crewed spaceflight since 2022
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin is targeting Sunday (May 19) for the six-person NS-25, the company's first crewed spaceflight since August 2022.
![a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a blue sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LoAzBzesjZARvkZMjxdmBZ-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 20 Starlink satellites on 50th mission of the year (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 20 of its Starlink internet satellites today (May 14), on the company's 50th orbital mission of 2024.
![a white and brown rocket stands vertically next to a tall white building](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Vgm7mRorHQSZMUu3JnxPJW-320-80.jpg)
Helium leak delays Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut launch to May 21
By Mike Wall published
The first crewed mission of Boeing's Starliner capsule has been pushed back by four days to May 21, due to a helium leak in its service module.
![ground-up view of a huge silver rocket booster being rolled out of an assembly building toward the launch pad](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pr7KHBaWNGGJdMYv3xGNiR-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Starship's next launch 'probably 3 to 5 weeks' away, Elon Musk says
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's Starship megarocket will likely conduct its fourth-ever test flight in the next month or so, according to Elon Musk.
![wide-field telescope view showing dozens of distant galaxies](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/J52vzNW3kc9LofB69tdxvV-320-80.jpg)
NASA appoints 1st AI chief to keep agency on 'the cutting edge'
By Mike Wall published
NASA has appointed its first-ever chief artificial intelligence officer, a move designed to ensure that the agency keeps up with the vital and rapidly evolving tech.
![A timelapse exposure captures the streak from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as it ascended from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Sunday, May 12, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/42Qf8hovDnchc7RpNtGp5e-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites from Florida (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 23 of its Starlink satellites from Florida on Sunday (May 12), adding to its huge and ever-growing broadband megaconstellation.
![a large silver rocket launches into a cloudy sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3mPwB8xfjzdBX2FJ4UZvf7-320-80.jpg)
FAA to conduct new environmental review for SpaceX's Starship operations in Florida
By Mike Wall published
The FAA announced May 10 that it will prepare an environmental impact statement for SpaceX's planned work with Starship at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
![a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a night sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L7iibBSgc6DFv3DfbYmBJB-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 20 Starlink satellites from California (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 20 Starlink internet satellites from California early Friday morning (May 10), including 13 with direct-to-cell capability.
![photo looking down on a cylindrical silver rocket with orange flames erupting from its base](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kgtJoTiXX6SvTvppVwyBSB-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX fires up Starship rocket for upcoming 5th test flight (photos, video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX ignited the engines on the upper stage of its fifth Starship vehicle today (May 8), even though the fourth one has not yet left the ground.
![a white and brown rocket stands vertically next to a tall white building](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Vgm7mRorHQSZMUu3JnxPJW-320-80.jpg)
Boeing's Starliner rolled off launch pad to replace 'buzzing' rocket valve (photo)
By Mike Wall published
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft was rolled off the launch pad today (May 8) to replace a misbehaving valve on its Atlas V rocket.
![a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a blue sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LSguuSiNdu63C7FitotcUo-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 23 satellites from Florida on 1st leg of Starlink doubleheader (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida today (May 8), on the first leg of a planned spaceflight doubleheader for the company.
![a brown and white rocket stands on its launch pad just after sunset](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GSTdUcuVZZdEk3tYPncDzV-320-80.jpg)
1st astronaut launch of Boeing's Starliner delayed to May 17 to replace 'buzzing' rocket valve
By Mike Wall published
The first crewed launch of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has been pushed to May 17 so teams can replace a valve on its Atlas V rocket.
![an illustration of stars as seen from a spacecraft moving at high speed; the stars appear as white trails](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gVip3hAiyYumCGzX53E4Ke-320-80.jpg)
'Warp drives' may actually be possible someday, new study suggests
By Mike Wall published
A new study provides some theoretical underpinning to sci-fi warp drives, suggesting that the superfast propulsion tech may not forever elude humanity.
![a white rocket stands on its launch pad on a sunny, clear morning.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/amFvJB2MRUUooeUbtpsMVK-320-80.jpg)
'Buzzing' rocket valve pushes 1st astronaut launch of Boeing's Starliner capsule to May 10
By Mike Wall published
The historic first crewed launch of Boeing's new Starliner astronaut taxi has been pushed to no earlier than Friday (May 10), due to an issue with the vehicle's rocket ride.