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Tariq Malik

SPACE.COM EDITOR IN CHIEF — Tariq joined the Space.com team in 2001 as a staff writer, and later editor, covering human spaceflight, exploration and space science. He became Space.com's Managing Editor in 2009. Before joining Space.com, Tariq was a staff reporter for The Los Angeles Times. He is also an Eagle Scout (yes, he has the Space Exploration merit badge) and went to Space Camp four times as a kid and a fifth time as an adult. He has journalism degrees from the University of Southern California and New York University. To see his latest project, you can follow Tariq on Google+, Twitter and on Facebook.

Articles by: Tariq Malik

A Soviet satellite crash sparks a wildfire in "The Walking Dead" season 10 premiere "Lines We Cross" on AMC.

A Soviet Satellite Falls to Earth in 'The Walking Dead' Season 10. How Realistic Is It?

By Tariq Malik

The episode "Lines We Cross" ends with an old Soviet satellite crashing to Earth, sparking a new plot point for the show. But how realistic is it? We asked a scientist.

A meteor lights up the midnight sky over the northeastern China provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang in this dashcam and surveillance camera video views taken on Oct. 11, 2019.

Brilliant Midnight Fireball Lights Up Sky Over Northeast China

By Tariq Malik

What appears to be a dazzling meteor lit up the sky over northeast China on Friday (Oct. 11), appearing as a brilliant fireball in surveillance video of the event.

NASA astronauts Andrew Morgan and Christina Koch spent more than 6.5 hours replacing solar array batteries on the International Space Station during a spacewalk on Oct. 11, 2019, the day cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, the first spacewalker in history, died.

Astronauts Mourn Alexei Leonov, the World's 1st Spacewalker, While On a Spacewalk of Their Own

By Tariq Malik

Alexei Leonov, the world's first spacewalker, died in a Moscow hospital Friday (Oct. 11), but his legacy lives on aboard the International Space Station where the crew performed a spacewalk today.

Playmobil will go back in time in May 2020 with three new sets from the "Back to the Future" film franchise.

Playmobil Is Going Back to the Future in 2020!

By Tariq Malik

Dust off your DeLoreans, sci-fi fans because Playmobil will launch three new sets from the "Back to the Future" films in 2020 that will have you channeling your inner Marty McFly.

An artist's view of NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON, satellite. NASA has delayed the ICON satellite's planned June 14 launch due to rocket issues.

ICON: NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer Satellite Mission in Pictures

By Tariq Malik

"Lost in Space 2" launches on Netflix on Dec. 24, 2019.

Netflix's 'Lost in Space' Season 2 Launch Date, Trailer Revealed at NYCC

By Tariq Malik

Netflix's "Lost in Space" will return for a second season on Dec. 24, with the space family Robinson stranded on yet another alien planet.

A view of the bridge during Star Trek: Discovery Season 1.

'Star Trek' Universe Panel: NYCC 2019

By Tariq Malik

Hello From the Star Trek Universe panel at NYCC 2019. We're trying a new thing this year to bring you news as it happens from the panel.

Lego has unveiled a batch of new "Star Wars" sets from a galaxy far, far away to celebrate Triple Force Friday for "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," "The Mandalorian" and classic "Star Wars" scenes.The sets will hit stores Oct. 4, 2019.

Lego Unveils New Star Wars Sets for Triple Force Friday!

By Tariq Malik

The Millennium Falcon rides again and you can build an EPIC Yoda!

Hasbro Star Wars Triple Force Friday 2019 toys and action figures.

Triple Force Friday: Hasbro Goes Big with 'Star Wars' Figures

By Tariq Malik

Power up your lightsabers, "Star Wars" fans, because Triple Force Friday is here and Hasbro has unveiled an epic haul of new toys, figures and droids from a galaxy far, far away.

An artist's illustration of NASA's Artemis moon lander fly astronauts to the moon by 2024.

NASA Is Now Accepting Proposals for Artemis Landers to Fly Astronauts to the Moon

By Tariq Malik

NASA is officially taking proposals for Artemis landers to fly astronauts to the moon by 2024.

Actor Brad Pitt is sending his name to Mars on NASA's 2020 Mars rover.

Today's the Last Chance to Send Your Name to Mars on NASA's 2020 Rover

By Tariq Malik

Today's the last day to add your name to the more than 9 million already signed up.

An aerial view of SpaceX's Starship Mk1 prototype, seen during Elon Musk's Starship update in South Texas on Sept. 28, 2019.

Elon Musk Unveils SpaceX's New Starship Plans for Private Trips to the Moon, Mars and Beyond

By Tariq Malik

The architecture is the best path toward a self-sustaining city on Mars, Musk stressed.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's HTV-8 cargo ship is captured by a robotic arm at the International Space Station on Sept. 28, 2019 to deliver more than 4 tons of supplies to the orbiting laboratory.

Unpiloted Japanese Cargo Ship Delivers Fresh Batteries and More to Space Station

By Tariq Malik

A Japanese cargo ship successfully reached to the International Space Station Saturday (Sept. 28) carrying 4 tons of supplies, including new batteries for the outpost's solar power grid.

Scientists used NASA's TESS space telescope to spot a star being shredded by a supermassive black hole. This artist’s conception depicts the star being torn apart into a thin stream of gas that is pulled around the black hole before crashing back into the star, kicking off more material.

Gargantuan Black Hole Shreds Star in Rare Cosmic Find

By Tariq Malik

Scientists have spotted what may be the best example yet of a star being ripped to shreds by a massive black hole. Here's what they found.

United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazzaa Ali Almansoori (left) and Expedition 61 crewmates Oleg Skripochka (center) of Russia and Jessica Meir of NASA post for a crew portrait with their Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft ahead of a Sept. 25, 2019 launch.

You Can Watch the 1st Emirati Astronaut Launch Into Space Today! Here's How

By Tariq Malik

The United Arab Emirates is about to take its first leap into space and you can watch it happen live. The Soyuz launch webcast begins at 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT).

A Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-built H-IIB rocket carrying the HTV-8 cargo ship for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency stands atop its launchpad at Tanegashima Space Center for a Sept. 24, 2019 launch.

Japan Is Launching an Unpiloted Cargo Ship to the Space Station Today. Watch Live

By Tariq Malik

Liftoff is at 12:05 p.m. EDT (1605 GMT).

U.S. President Donald Trump and Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison speak with reporters after a bilateral meeting on Sept. 20, 2019 at the White House in Washington.

Trump Hails Mars As NASA's Next Target, Says the Moon's 'Not So Exciting'

By Tariq Malik

President Trump said the U.S. space program is doing tremendous work with commercial companies to eventually send NASA astronauts Mars.

This photo, taken by a Planet Dove satellite, shows a vast plume of smoke from oil processing facilities in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia after a drone strike claimed by Yemeni Houthi rebels.

Satellite Photo Shows Aftermath of Drone Attack on Saudi Oil Facilities

By Tariq Malik

A Planet Earth-watching satellite has spotted a vast smoke plume from Saudi Arabian oil-processing facilities after a drone attack on Saturday (Sept. 14).

This image, the second selfie captured by NASA's InSight Mars lander, is a mosaic of 14 photos taken between March 15 and April 11, 2019.

NASA Wins 2nd Emmy for Mars Landing ('Star Trek: Discovery' Wins, Too!)

By Tariq Malik

NASA on Sunday (Sept. 15) won a second Emmy for 2019 in honor of the agency's InSight Mars landing coverage. "Star Trek: Discovery" won a statue, too!

Spectators watch SpaceX's Crew Dragon Demonstration Mission 1 launch from Pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on March 2, 2019.

NASA, SpaceX Coverage of 1st Crew Dragon Test Flight Wins Emmy

By Tariq Malik

NASA has won an Emmy for Outstanding Interactive Program over its coverage of SpaceX's historic Crew Dragon test flight this year.

Spectators watch SpaceX's Crew Dragon Demonstration Mission 1 launch from Pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on March 2, 2019.

NASA Nabs Emmy Nominations for SpaceX Launch, Mars Landing

By Tariq Malik

NASA coverage of SpaceX's Crew Dragon test flight and the InSight landing on Mars have nabbed two Emmy nominations for 2019.

The rings of Saturn and four of its moons take center stage in this portrait by the Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3 taken on June 20, 2019.

Saturn and Its Rings Look Truly Spectacular in This Hubble Telescope Portrait

By Tariq Malik

NASA and the European Space Agency unveiled the new Saturn portrait by the Hubble Space Telescope today (Sept. 12), and it is absolutely jaw-dropping.

The space thriller "Ad Astra" starring Brad Pitt gets the haunting soundtrack from Dev Hynes of Blood Orange, who used real sounds from space and historic missions to score this video.

'Ad Astra' Gets Haunting Score from Dev Hynes of Blood Orange (Exclusive Video)

By Tariq Malik

The space thriller "Ad Astra" starring Brad Pitt is almost here and now you can see a haunting glimpse at the science fiction film courtesy of musician Dev Hynes of Blood Orange.

A Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-built H-IIB rocket carrying the HTV-8 cargo ship for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency stands atop its launchpad at Tanegashima Space Center for a Sept. 10, 2019 launch.

Japan to Launch Robotic Cargo Ship to Space Station Today. Watch It Live

By Tariq Malik

Liftoff is at 5:33 p.m. EDT (2133 GMT).

The Indian Space Research Organisation's Chandrayaan-2 moon orbiter is shown studying the lunar surface from above in this still image from a video animation.

India Just Found Its Lost Vikram Lander on the Moon, Still No Signal

By Tariq Malik

India's Chandrayaan-2 orbiter circling the moon has spotted the country's lost Vikram lander on the lunar surface, but there is still no signal, ISRO officials said Saturday (Sept. 7).