Robert Z. Pearlman

Robert Z. Pearlman

collectSPACE.com Editor, Space.com Contributor

Robert Pearlman is a space historian, journalist and the founder and editor of collectSPACE.com, a daily news publication and community devoted to space history with a particular focus on how and where space exploration intersects with pop culture. Pearlman is also a contributing writer for Space.com and co-author of "Space Stations: The Art, Science, and Reality of Working in Space” published by Smithsonian Books in 2018.

In 2009, he was inducted into the U.S. Space Camp Hall of Fame in Huntsville, Alabama. In 2021, he was honored by the American Astronautical Society with the Ordway Award for Sustained Excellence in Spaceflight History. In 2023, the National Space Club Florida Committee recognized Pearlman with the Kolcum News and Communications Award for excellence in telling the space story along the Space Coast and throughout the world.

Latest articles by Robert Z. Pearlman

A white and black rocket lifts off from its launch pad into a partially cloudy blue sky.

SpaceX Falcon 9 deploys 24 Starlink satellites after California launch

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 Starlink satellites launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026.

Launches & Spacecraft
a white and black rocket with NASA markings on it stands poised on a launch pad awaiting its day to launch

How long will the ISS operate with a skeleton crew? SpaceX’s Crew-12 astronaut mission delayed to Feb. 13

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

NASA and SpaceX mission managers have delayed the Falcon 9 launch of the next crew to the International Space Station as they await improved weather conditions.

Launches & Spacecraft
A daytime time lapse exposure of a rocket launch lifting off into partially cloudy sky.

SpaceX resumes Falcon 9 flights with Starlink satellite launch from California (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 25 Starlink satellites launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Feb. 7, 2025. The mission returned the Falcon to flight after an upper stage issue.

Launches & Spacecraft
A white and black rocket launches into a clear blue sky backdropped by a large body of water

Groundhog Day launch sends SpaceX Starlink satellites into Earth orbit from California (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 25 Starlink satellites launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026.

Launches & Spacecraft
A time lapse photo captures the break streak of a rocket launching into the early morning dark blue sky over a body of water

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites from two coasts in two days

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 25 Starlink satellites lifted off from California on Jan. 29, 2026. The company repeated the feat the next day with 29 satellites from Florida.

Launches & Spacecraft
A rocket with a white stream of light behind it blasts off into a dark night sky

SpaceX launches 25 Starlink satellites into orbit from California (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

SpaceX lit up the night sky over Vandenberg Space Force Base today (Jan. 22) with the launch of 25 more satellites for its Starlink broadband internet service.

Launches & Spacecraft
a white and black rocket lifts off into the night sky, its bright yellow-white plume lighting its launch pad below.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 29 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026.

Launches & Spacecraft
a close-up of a payload fairing atop a rocket as it lifs off from its ocean-side launch pad

Starlink satellites lift off on SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying 29 Starlink satellites launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026.

Launches & Spacecraft
a white and black rocket lifts off from its launch pad, leaving a large white plume

SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites into orbit from Florida (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.

Launches & Spacecraft
a timelapse photo of a rocket launch causes the appearance of a bright beam of light extending from the ground into the night sky

SpaceX launches 1st Starlink satellites of 2026 on new Falcon 9 rocket (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.

Launches & Spacecraft
a white and black rocket launches into a clear blue sky from its ocean side launch pad

SpaceX launches Starlink missions in dual-coast spaceflight doubleheader (videos)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

SpaceX launched two Falcon 9 rockets, each carrying Starlink satellites, from Kennedy Space Cener in Florida and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Dec. 17, 2025.

Launches & Spacecraft
a white and black rocket lifts off into the darkness of night, its bright orange-tinted plume lighting up its launch pad.

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites into orbit on 100th Falcon 9 flight from Florida in 2025 (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025.

Launches & Spacecraft
a camera mounted on the side of a rocket captures the plume from the booster's nine engines as they near cutoff and separation.

Falcon 9 rocket launches Starlink satellites before making 550th SpaceX landing (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 27 Starlink satellites lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. The first stage then made the company's 550th landing.

Launches & Spacecraft
the blue waters and white clouds stretch to out to Earth's horizon, set against the blackness of space; in the foreground, a space capsule extends out from a space station

Astronaut sees gorgeous 'skies of blue and clouds of white' | On the International Space Station this week Dec. 8-12, 2025

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The seven members of the Expedition 74 crew studied stem cells, packed up a cargo ship and maintained their toilet this week aboard the International Space Station.

International Space Station
a white and black rocket lifts off into the dusk sky adding the warm glow surrounding it ocean-side launch pad

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites from Florida on worldwide 300th orbital flight of 2025 (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Dec. 11, 2025. It was the 300th worldwide orbital launch attempt of 2025.

Launches & Spacecraft
a white and black rocket lifts into the predawn sky, lighting its launch pad and ground below

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites from California on 160th Falcon 9 flight of the year (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 27 Starlink satellites launched from Vandenberg Space Force Station in California on Dec. 10, 2025. It was the 160th Falcon 9 flight of the year.

Launches & Spacecraft
a man in a white pressure suit sits outside his spacecraft after landing back on Earth

Russian Soyuz capsule lands on Earth to return crew of 3 home after months on International Space Station (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky landed on Russia's Soyuz MS-27 on Dec. 9, 2025, after 245 days on the International Space Station.

International Space Station
a white rocket with black stripes lifts off its launch pad under an overcast sky

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites on record 32nd flight of Falcon 9 rocket (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. It was the record 32nd flight of the Falcon's first stage.

Launches & Spacecraft
a white rocket with a black interstage lifts off from its oceanside launch pad into a clear blue sky

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches Starlink satellites from Vandenberg in California (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.

Launches & Spacecraft
a lights from cities along the coast of a peninsula are seen at night from space

3 astronauts settle into their new life in orbit | On the International Space Station this week Dec. 1-5, 2025

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Newly arrived and soon-to-depart members of Expedition 73 prepared for what is to come next during this, their final week all together aboard the International Space Station.

International Space Station
a white and black rocket launches into a dusk sky, leaving behind a puffy plume

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 29 Starlink satellites from Florida (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink broadband internet satellites launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025.

Launches & Spacecraft
an arc of golden light stretches from the horizon into a cloudy, indigo sky

SpaceX blasts off into December with early morning Starlink launch from Florida (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec. 1, 2025.

Launches & Spacecraft
a docked spacecraft and space station modules are set against a starfield and the Aurora Australis (southern lights) above the horizon of Earth

Astronauts welcome arrival of new crewmates | On the ISS this week Nov. 24-28, 2025

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Expedition 73 gained three crewmates, expanding the International Space Station's complement to 10. Activities continued as the outpost extended beyond 25 years of a continuous human presence.

International Space Station
drone video still of a launch pad after a launch showing damage to the infrastructure at the base of the flame trench

Russia's only active launch pad for cosmonauts damaged by Soyuz crew launch to International Space Station

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The liftoff of two cosmonauts a NASA astronaut to the International Space Station caused damage to Russia's launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

International Space Station
A Russian Soyuz roket launches into space with four photographers tracking it in the foreground.

US-Russian Soyuz crew launches to the International Space Station on Thanksgiving Day

By Robert Z. Pearlman last updated

Russia's Soyuz MS-28 crew — Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev of Roscosmos and Chris Williams of NASA — launched for and arrived at the ISS on Nov. 27, 2025, Thanksgiving Day.

Human Spaceflight
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