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
SpaceX launches Swedish internet satellite to orbit (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched a Swedish broadband satellite tonight (Jan. 3) on the company's second mission of 2024.
NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter sets new distance record on the Red Planet
By Mike Wall published
NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter flew farther than it ever has before on Dec. 20, covering 2,315 feet (705 meters) of Red Planet ground.
Starship, Starlink and more: SpaceX poised for huge 2024
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX smashed its own record last year, launching 96 missions to orbit. But 2024 will be even busier, if things go according to plan.
SpaceX launches 1st batch of 'direct to cell' Starlink satellites (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 21 more of its Starlink internet satellites, including the first six 'direct to cell' craft, on Tuesday (Jan. 2).
SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launches mysterious X-37B space plane for US Space Force after delays
By Mike Wall published
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launched the U.S. Space Force's X-37B space plane to orbit tonight (Dec. 28), kicking off the robotic vehicle's seventh mission.
Japan's SLIM 'moon sniper' lander arrives in lunar orbit for Christmas
By Mike Wall published
Japan's robotic SLIM spacecraft arrived in lunar orbit today (Dec. 24) ahead of a historic moon touchdown attempt that's scheduled for Jan. 19.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 2 German military satellites
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched two radar reconnaissance satellites for the German military on Sunday morning (Dec. 24).
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches Starlink satellites on record-breaking 19th mission
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off for a record-setting 19th time on Saturday (Dec. 23), sending 23 Starlink internet satellites to orbit.
Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket suffers problem, deploys satellite in wrong orbit
By Mike Wall last updated
Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket suffered an upper-stage problem during its fourth-ever flight on Friday (Dec. 22), delivering its payload to the wrong orbit.
SpaceX launch of Axiom Space's 3rd private astronaut mission delayed to Jan. 17
By Mike Wall published
The SpaceX launch of Axiom Space's Ax-3 private astronaut mission to the International Space Station has been delayed by eight days, to Jan. 17.
SpaceX fires up giant Starship rocket ahead of 3rd test flight (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX conducted a static fire test today (Dec. 20) with Ship 28, a prototype that's being readied to make the third test flight of the Starship program.
Artemis program will land international astronaut on the moon by end of 2020s, VP Harris says
By Mike Wall published
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pledged today (Dec. 20) that NASA's Artemis program will send a non-American to the lunar surface before this decade is done.
VP Kamala Harris lead National Space Council meeting today (Dec. 20)
By Mike Wall published
Vice President Kamala Harris will preside over her third National Space Council meeting today (Dec. 20), and you can watch it live.
Blue Origin launches New Shepard rocket, aces landing in 1st return to flight since 2022 failure (video)
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin launched its first mission since September 2022 on Dec. 19, safely bringing the payloads back to Earth. The next space tourism crew has not yet been announced.
SpaceX launches Starlink satellites from Florida after multiple delays (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 23 more of its Starlink internet satellites on Monday (Dec. 18) after a series of delays.
SpaceX gearing up for 3rd Starship flight (photos)
By Mike Wall published
A month after its latest liftoff, SpaceX's giant Starship rocket is getting ready to fly again.
SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch of X-37B space plane now targeted for Dec. 28
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX is now targeting Dec. 28 for the launch of the U.S. Space Force's X-37B space plane atop a Falcon Heavy rocket, after a delay of more than two weeks.
Startup True Anomaly snags $100 million for space security work
By Mike Wall published
True Anomaly just raised $100 million in funding, which the company will use to continue developing its space security technology.
Sun unleashes monster X-class solar flare, most powerful since 2017 (video)
By Mike Wall published
The sun unleashed an X2.8 solar flare today (Dec. 14), its most powerful such eruption since September 2017.
Rocket Lab returns to flight with successful launch of Japanese satellite (video)
By Mike Wall published
Rocket Lab successfully sent a Japanese commercial satellite skyward tonight (Dec. 14), acing its first mission since a failure in September.
Perseverance rover celebrates 1,000 Mars days on the Red Planet
By Mike Wall published
NASA's Perseverance rover hit a big milestone today (Dec. 13) — 1,000 Mars days, or sols, on the Red Planet.
Relive Artemis 1 Orion's fiery return from the moon in this amazing video
By Mike Wall published
Just over a year ago, NASA's Artemis 1 Orion capsule returned to Earth in a blaze of glory, which the spacecraft captured on video.
Blue Origin will return to flight with uncrewed mission on Dec. 18
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin plans to end its 15-month spaceflight hiatus with an uncrewed mission of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle on Dec. 18.
SpaceX, US Space Force set to launch secretive X-37B space plane
By Mike Wall last updated
Final preparations are underway for a new launch opportunity, which will mark the first time the X-37B has lifted off atop SpaceX's powerful Falcon Heavy rocket.
SpaceX scrubs Falcon Heavy's X-37B space plane launch due to ground issue
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX scrubbed Wednesday's (Dec. 13) planned Falcon Heavy launch of the US military's X-37B space plane, citing a 'ground side issue.' The next launch opportunity has yet to be announced.