
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

Watch SpaceX's history-making Fram2 astronaut mission return to Earth today
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's Fram2, the first crewed mission ever to orbit Earth over its poles, will splash down today (April 4), and you can watch the action live.

SpaceX launches 27 Starlink satellites to orbit from California
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX sent 27 of its Starlink internet satellites toward low Earth orbit from California this evening (April 3).

SpaceX fires up used Super Heavy booster ahead of 9th Starship test flight (photos, videos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX is gearing up for the ninth test flight of its Starship megarocket, which will be the first to reuse the vehicle's Super Heavy first stage.

True Anomaly to launch 1st deep-space security missions with autonomous Jackal satellites in 2026
By Mike Wall published
Colorado-based startup True Anomaly plans to begin launching its autonomous Jackal satellites to geosynchronous orbit and Earth-moon space in 2026.

Atlas V rocket will launch Amazon's 1st big batch of Project Kuiper internet satellites on April 9
By Mike Wall published
Amazon's first big batch of Project Kuiper broadband satellites will lift off a week from now, if all goes according to plan.

Europe's life-hunting ExoMars rover gets new landing platform to replace canceled Russian craft
By Mike Wall published
The European Space Agency has picked Airbus to build the landing platform for the life-hunting ExoMars rover Rosalind Franklin, which is scheduled to launch in 2028.

Déjà vu: President Trump nominates Greg Autry again to be NASA's financial chief
By Mike Wall published
President Trump has nominated space policy expert Greg Autry to be NASA's chief financial officer, as he did back in 2020 to no avail.

Watch a private German rocket explode during 1st orbital launch attempt from European soil (video)
By Mike Wall published
A dramatic video shows Isar Aerospace's first orbital launch attempt, which ended with a fiery crash into the frigid sea about 30 seconds after liftoff.

FAA closes investigation into SpaceX Starship Flight 7 explosion
By Mike Wall published
The FAA has closed its investigation into the SpaceX Starship Flight 7 mishap, accepting the company's findings and verifying its corrective actions.

Watch SpaceX launch historic Fram2 astronaut mission over Earth's poles tonight (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX plans to launch the Fram2 astronaut mission over Earth's poles tonight (March 31), and you can watch the action live.

SpaceX rolls out rocket for historic Fram2 astronaut flight over Earth's poles (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX has rolled out the rocket and Crew Dragon capsule that will launch the Fram2 astronaut mission on Monday night (March 31).

NASA astronaut who gave up seat for Starliner crew takes command of SpaceX Crew-11 flight to ISS
By Mike Wall published
Zena Cardman, who was removed from an ISS launch to facilitate the return to Earth of Starliner's first crew, will command SpaceX's upcoming Crew-11 mission to the station.

Boeing's next Starliner launch for NASA could slip to early 2026 after fixes
By Mike Wall published
NASA and Boeing are still working on the thruster issues that Starliner experienced on its first crewed flight last year, so the capsule's next liftoff is a ways off yet.

US Space Force certifies new Vulcan Centaur rocket to launch national security missions
By Mike Wall published
The U.S. Space Force has certified ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rocket to launch national security missions, doubling the number of providers for such flights.

NASA cancels cargo launch to ISS due to damaged Cygnus spacecraft
By Mike Wall published
NASA has canceled the planned June liftoff of a Cygnus ISS resupply mission due to damage the freighter incurred during transport to the launch site.

SpaceX launches secret US spy satellite on 19th anniversary of company's 1st-ever liftoff (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched its third mission of the year for the United States' spy satellite agency today (March 24), the 19th anniversary of the company's first-ever liftoff.

SpaceX sets new rocket-reuse record on launch of US spy satellites (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX set a new rocket-reuse record early Friday morning (March 21) when it launched a batch of spy satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.

NASA still mulling options for Boeing's troubled Starliner astronaut capsule
By Mike Wall published
NASA and Boeing are still working on the problems that cropped up during Starliner's first crewed flight, which launched more than nine months ago.

Mars madness! Perfect NCAA tournament bracket wins you a trip to the Red Planet on SpaceX's Starship
By Mike Wall published
If you have an otherworldly knack for picking the winners of college basketball games, you could get a free ride to Mars on SpaceX's Starship megarocket.

Dolphins welcome SpaceX's Crew-9 astronauts home after splashdown (video)
By Mike Wall published
A pod of dolphins gave the four astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-9 mission a warm welcome after their capsule splashed down in the ocean on Tuesday afternoon (March 18).

SpaceX launches 23 Starlink internet satellites to orbit from Florida's Space Coast (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 23 Starlink internet satellites, 13 of which have direct-to-cell capability, from Florida this afternoon (March 18).

Watch the sun set over the moon in epic video from private Blue Ghost lunar lander
By Mike Wall published
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost moon lander captured amazing views of the lunar sunset shortly before shutting down on Sunday (March 16).

Starliner astronauts head back to Earth with SpaceX Crew-9 duo to make long-awaited landing (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Nick Hague, Aleksandr Gorbunov, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are heading back to Earth, and you can watch their Tuesday (March 18) homecoming live.
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