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 Japan attempt to ace its 1st-ever moon landing today with this free livestream (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Japan's robotic SLIM spacecraft will attempt to pull off the nation's first-ever moon landing on Friday morning (Jan. 19), and you can watch the action live.
Astrobotic loses contact with hobbled Peregrine moon lander
By Mike Wall published
Astrobotic lost contact with its Peregrine moon lander on Thursday afternoon (Jan. 18), suggesting that the troubled probe crashed to Earth over the South Pacific as expected.
Crippled Peregrine moon lander expected to crash to Earth today carrying human remains
By Mike Wall published
The private Peregrine moon lander's long journey is about to come to an end, back on its home planet.
US must beat China back to the moon, Congress tells NASA
By Mike Wall published
The newly announced delays to NASA's Artemis 2 and Artemis 3 moon missions are making some members of Congress nervous.
SpaceX poised to launch private Ax-3 astronaut mission to ISS today
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX remains on target to launch the private Ax-3 astronaut mission to the International Space Station on Wednesday evening (Jan. 17).
'If it had had a payload, it would have made it to orbit.' Elon Musk reveals cause of Starship explosion (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's giant Starship Mars rocket blew up about eight minutes into its second-ever test flight last fall because the launch team vented its liquid oxygen, Elon Musk said.
SpaceX rolls rocket to pad for Ax-3 astronaut launch (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX just rolled its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule out to the pad for the planned Wednesday (Jan. 17) launch of the private Ax-3 astronaut mission.
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites on company's 300th successful mission (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket sent 23 Starlink satellites to orbit Sunday night (Jan. 15) on the company's 300th successful mission to date.
SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites from California to kick off Sunday rocket doubleheader
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched early Sunday morning (Jan. 14), sending 22 Starlink satellites to orbit.
Hobbled Peregrine moon lander limps to lunar distance as Astrobotic fights to keep it alive
By Mike Wall published
Astrobotic's Peregrine lander has made it out to lunar distance, a major milestone for the crippled craft — but a moon landing still doesn't seem to be in the cards.
SpaceX Dragon capsule arrives at pad for Ax-3 astronaut launch (photos)
By Mike Wall published
The SpaceX Dragon capsule that will fly the private Ax-3 astronaut mission to the International Space Station has arrived at its launch pad ahead of its planned Jan. 17 liftoff.
Fuel leak on ailing private Peregrine moon lander is slowing, Astrobotic says
By Mike Wall published
The propellant leak that has crippled Astrobotic's Peregrine moon lander continues to slow, allowing the company to squeeze more science and engineering data out of the craft.
Japan's 1st launch of 2024 sends spy satellite to orbit (photos)
By Mike Wall published
Japan launched a reconnaissance satellite called IGS Optical 8 to orbit Thursday night (Jan. 11) in the nation's first mission of the new year.
China's record-breaking Gravity-1 rocket aces amazing debut launch from ship at sea (video)
By Mike Wall published
The Gravity-1 solid rocket, built by Chinese company Orienspace, aced its first-ever launch today (Jan. 11), sending three satellites to orbit.
SpaceX's new direct-to-cell Starlink satellites relay their 1st text messages
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX just broke in its newly launched direct-to-cell Starlink satellites, using them to send text messages for the first time.
Doomed Peregrine moon lander snaps another selfie as it zooms away from Earth (photo)
By Mike Wall published
Astrobotic's Peregrine moon lander snapped another in-space selfie as it cruised away from Earth, toward a date with lunar destiny that it can no longer keep.
Stuck valve may have doomed private Peregrine moon lander mission, Astrobotic says
By Mike Wall published
A stuck valve may be to blame for the problems plaguing Astrobotic's private Peregrine moon lander, according to the company.
Private Peregrine moon lander won't make lunar landing due to uncontrollable fuel leak
By Mike Wall published
A propellant leak will keep Astrobotic's Peregrine lander from touching down on the moon, but the mission team is working to extend the probe's life as long as possible.
1st photo from crippled private Peregrine moon lander holds clue to anomaly
By Mike Wall published
The photo shows a disturbance in some of Peregrine's insulation, which is consistent with a problem in the moon lander's propulsion system.
Private Peregrine moon lander suffers 'critical' fuel loss after launch, mission at risk
By Mike Wall published
Astrobotic's Peregrine lander suffered a problem with its propulsion system today (Jan. 8) that will apparently prevent it from journeying to the moon.
Watch ULA's Vulcan rocket launch private Peregrine moon lander on debut mission early Jan. 8 (Updated)
By Mike Wall last updated
ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rocket will launch for the first time early on Jan. 8, sending the private Peregrine lander toward the moon, and you can watch it live.
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites from Florida (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 5:35 p.m. EST (2235 GMT) on Sunday (Jan. 7), sending 23 Starlink satellites to orbit.
Vulcan Centaur rocket is 'go' for historic Jan. 8 launch of private Peregrine moon lander
By Mike Wall published
ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rocket has been cleared to launch for the first time on Jan. 8, a mission that will send the private Peregrine lander toward the moon.