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
New record! 19 people are orbiting Earth right now
By Mike Wall published
Three people launched toward the ISS today (Sept. 11) aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule, bringing the total number of people in Earth orbit to 19 — a new record.
Meet the NASA science flying on SpaceX's Polaris Dawn private astronaut mission
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's historic Polaris Dawn private astronaut mission carried a variety of NASA experiments to orbit. Here's a quick look at the research and its goals.
NASA's Europa Clipper probe to icy Jupiter moon takes big step toward its Oct. 10 launch
By Mike Wall published
NASA's Europa Clipper astrobiology probe passed a major technical review today (Sept. 9), keeping the highly anticipated mission on track for its planned Oct. 10 launch.
SpaceX will start launching Starships to Mars in 2026, Elon Musk says
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX plans to start launching uncrewed Mars missions with its Starship megarocket in 2026 and crewed flights to the Red Planet two years after that, Elon Musk said.
Boeing Starliner capsule lands back on Earth, without astronauts, to end troubled test flight (video)
By Mike Wall published
Boeing's Starliner capsule returned to Earth early this morning (Sept. 7), wrapping up its first-ever crewed mission. But it came home without any astronauts on board.
NASA delays ESCAPADE Mars launch on Blue Origin's giant New Glenn rocket to 2025 to avoid potential cost overruns
By Mike Wall published
The ESCAPADE Mars mission, previously scheduled to launch atop a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket on Oct. 13, will now lift off in spring 2025 at the earliest.
Boeing's Starliner all packed up to return to Earth from ISS today
By Mike Wall published
Boeing's Starliner capsule is all packed up and ready to depart the International Space Station today (Sept. 6) at 6:04 p.m. EDT (2204 GMT).
SpaceX launches next-gen US spy satellites on 2nd leg of spaceflight doubleheader (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched a batch of spy satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office tonight (Sept. 5), the company's second orbital mission of the day.
Europe's Vega rocket aces its final mission (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Europe's Vega small-satellite launcher flew its last-ever mission tonight (Sept. 4), sending the Sentinel-2C Earth-observing satellite skyward.
Blue Origin droneship arrives in Florida ahead of 1st New Glenn launch (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin's droneship, named "Jacklyn," arrived at Florida's Port Canaveral ahead of the inaugural launch of the company's huge New Glenn rocket next month.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket can return to flight, FAA says
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX can resume flying its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced this evening (Aug. 30), two days after a landing failure grounded the vehicle.
NASA gives Intuitive Machines $117 million for 2027 mission to moon's south pole
By Mike Wall published
Intuitive Machines, which aced the first-ever private moon landing earlier this year, just scored a $117 million NASA contract for a 2027 mission to the lunar south pole.
Boeing's 1st crewed Starliner to return to Earth without astronauts on Sept. 6
By Mike Wall published
Boeing's troubled Starliner capsule is poised to return to Earth without any crew aboard on Sept. 6, NASA announced on Thursday (Aug. 29).
New record: Blue Origin launches youngest woman beyond Kármán line
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin set a new record with today's space tourism launch, sending the youngest woman beyond the 62-mile-high (100 kilometers) Kármán line.
'One of the cleanest flights I've seen.' Blue Origin launches 6 people to space, lands safely on NS-26 flight (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Blue Origin launched its eighth suborbital space tourism mission this morning (Aug. 29), sending six people to space and back.
The FAA is investigating SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket landing failure, launch delays possible
By Mike Wall published
The FAA is requiring an investigation into the failed touchdown attempt of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket's first stage after a successful Starlink satellite launch early Wednesday morning (Aug. 28).
SpaceX rocket catches fire, falls over while landing at sea after record-breaking Starlink launch (video)
By Mike Wall published
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket set a reusability record during a Starlink satellite launch early Wednesday morning (Aug. 28) but failed to stick its landing.
SpaceX delays Polaris Dawn astronaut launch until at least Aug. 30 due to bad weather
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX scrubbed the planned Aug. 28 launch of the Polaris Dawn astronaut mission due to bad weather. The mission now won't fly until Friday (Aug. 30) at the earliest.
SpaceX delays Polaris Dawn astronaut launch to Aug. 28 due to helium leak
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX has pushed the launch of the historic Polaris Dawn astronaut mission back 24 hours, to Wednesday morning (Aug. 28), due to a helium leak.
Blue Origin's next space tourism flight will launch on Aug. 29
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin is targeting Thursday (Aug. 29) for the launch of its eighth suborbital crewed mission, a flight called NS-26.
SpaceX fires up Falcon 9 rocket ahead of Polaris Dawn astronaut launch (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX test-fired the first stage of Polaris Dawn's Falcon 9 rocket over the weekend, keeping the historic astronaut mission on track for an Aug. 27 launch.
How SpaceX's historic Polaris Dawn private spacewalk will work
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission, which is scheduled to launch on Aug. 27, will feature the first-ever private spacewalk. Here's what to expect.
SpaceX stacks 2nd Starship launch tower in Texas (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX continues to build out its Starbase site in South Texas, recently stacking the tower for a second Starship launch pad at the facility.
SpaceX shows off Dragon capsules for Polaris Dawn, Crew-9 astronaut missions (photos)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX just gave us a look at the Crew Dragon capsules that will fly on the Polaris Dawn and Crew-9 astronaut missions, which are set to launch on Aug. 27 and Sept. 24, respectively.
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