Tariq Malik

Tariq Malik

Editor-in-Chief

Tariq is the Editor-in-Chief of Space.com based out of our New York City office and joined the team in 2001, first as an intern and staff writer, and later as an editor. He covers human spaceflight, exploration and space science, as well as skywatching and entertainment. He became Space.com's Managing Editor in 2009 and Editor-in-Chief in 2019. In October 2022, Tariq received the Harry Kolcum Award for excellence in space reporting from the National Space Club Florida Committee. In June 2025, the National Space Society awarded him the Space Pioneer Award for Excellence in Mass Media at the International Space Development Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Hailing from Stockton, California (where he attended the same high school as NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez), Tariq studied print journalism and astronomy at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, earning a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1999 along with a minor in astronomy. He then served as a staff reporter for The Los Angeles Times covering education and city beats in La Habra and Fullerton in Orange County for the Our Times sections.

In 2000, Tariq became the city reporter for the Huntington Beach Independent, a weekly publication of the Los Angeles Times, covering local politics and events, crime, business and environmental issues. He left the Los Angeles Times in 2001 to study science journalism at New York University, where he earned a master's degree in 2002 from NYU's Science and Environmental Reporting Program (now the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program) under the direction of space reporter William Burrows.

Tariq first joined Space.com as an intern in September 2001 while also serving as a research assistant for nutrition writer Gary Taubes and writing freelance projects, where his work appeared in The Scientist and Laboratory Equipment Magazine. He became a full-time reporter covering spaceflight in 2004, with this first launch being NASA's STS-114 Return to Flight mission in July 2005.

Tariq 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. When not writing about space, you can find Tariq watching the latest Star Trek TV series, sci-fi movies and reading about hippos, his favorite animal. You can find Tariq at Space.com and as the co-host to the This Week In Space podcast with space historian Rod Pyle on the TWiT network. To see his latest project, you can follow Tariq on Twitter @tariqjmalik.

Latest articles by Tariq Malik

Artemis 2 crew names crater for carroll wiseman

Artemis 2 LIVE: Artemis 2 astronauts swap places for lunar observations

By Tariq Malik, Josh Dinner, Daisy Dobrijevic, Brett Tingley last updated

Monday, April 6, 2026: See our latest news and updates on NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission.

3 Comments
Missions
Artemis 2 Moon Flyby Today

NASA Artemis 2 astronauts to make historic moon flyby today. Here's what to expect hour by hour (timeline)

By Tariq Malik last updated

NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts will make a historic moon flyby today (April 6). Here's how it will happen, hour by hour.

2 Comments
Artemis
The Artemis 2 crew took this photo on April 4, 2026, Day 4 of their journey to the moon. The moon is oriented with the south pole at the top. Orientale Basin is on the right edge of the lunar disk in this image. Artemis 2 marks the first time that humans have seen the entire basin. The astronauts will continue to observe Orientale from multiple angles as they approach the moon and throughout the lunar flyby. Orientale is the textbook multi-ring impact basin used as a baseline to compare other impact craters on rocky worlds from Mercury to Pluto.

When the moon hits your eye from your Orion ship up high, that's a 'mare' for Artemis 2

By Tariq Malik published

The four Artemis 2 astronauts had a chance to observe the moon this weekend, and to say they were thrilled may be an understatement of cosmic proportions.

Artemis
Two images with a view of an NASA Orion spacecraft on left and space toilet on right.

The breakout star of NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission isn't an astronaut — it's the space toilet

By Tariq Malik published

The on-again, off-again lunar loo allows astronauts to "go" at the moon like no one's gone before.

2 Comments
Artemis

What is the moon phase today? Lunar phases 2026

By Tariq Malik, Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference See what moon phase it is tonight and find out when you can see the rest of the moon phases for 2026.

Reference
The Orion spacecraft with NASA logos visible on the way to the moon on Artemis 2

Artemis 2 astronauts — now halfway to the moon — report 'burning smell' from toilet, but everything's fine

By Tariq Malik published

Mission Control isn't concerned about the Orion toilet smell, but is looking into to it.

8 Comments
Artemis
NASA astronaut Victor Glover (right) prepares to take a towel bath inside the Orion spacecraft on the way to the moon on April 3, 2026.

An Artemis 2 astronaut took a 'bath' on camera on the way to the moon. Mission Control's reaction was priceless (video)

By Tariq Malik published

NASA's Artemis 2 pilot Victor Glover was cleaning up after a workout when the cameras caught a bit more than expected. Mission Control's response was priceless.

Artemis
Artemis 2 crew members Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover answer questions from reporters during the first downlink event of their mission.

NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts are cruising to the moon. So why are they doing CPR tests today?

By Tariq Malik published

After an action-packed first two days, Flight Day 3 may bring a more relaxed pace for the Artemis 2 moon astronauts.

6 Comments
Artemis
A castle ruin is in the foreground of the image with a subtle pink hued sky and a bright full moon.

Full moon calendar 2026: When to see the next full moon

By Tariq Malik last updated

Reference The full moon happens about once a month. Find out when.

2 Comments
Reference
A view of the Earth from space as seen from NASA's Orion spacecraft after launching on the Artemis 2 mission.

There was a bit of toilet trouble on NASA's Artemis 2 mission to the moon

By Tariq Malik published

It wasn't their No. 1 problem, but it was a problem for going number one.

22 Comments
Artemis
a rocket launches into a blue sky

NASA launches 4 astronauts to the moon on historic Artemis 2 voyage, a lunar leap for the 21st century

By Tariq Malik, Josh Dinner published

NASA launched its Artemis 2 mission today (April 1), sending astronauts toward the moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

5 Comments
Artemis
four people in blue flight suits and sunglasses smile and wave on a concrete tarmac

Yes, NASA's launching Artemis 2 astronauts to the moon on April Fools' Day. It's not a joke.

By Tariq Malik published

NASA is hoping for a historic moon launch, not a punchline on April 1.

4 Comments
Artemis
artemis 2 orion title card

Inside Artemis 2: NASA's historic astronaut moon mission explained (video series)

By Tariq Malik, Steve Spaleta last updated

Get to know NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission with Space.com's exclusive four-part video series Inside Artemis II debuting March 25-March 31.

9 Comments
Artemis

NASA's Artemis 2 pilot Victor Glover listens to 'Whitey on the Moon' every Monday. This is why.

By Tariq Malik published

"It ain't about racism. It's about the human condition."

Space Exploration
NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, left, Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, right, stop for a group photograph as they visit NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, Monday, March 30, 2026, at Launch Complex 39B of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Huge solar flare no threat to Artemis 2 astronaut launch to the moon, NASA says

By Tariq Malik published

A massive X1.4 solar flare won't endanger NASA's four Artemis 2 astronauts on their way to the moon.

Artemis
A bald man wearing a blue flight suit with the NASA meatball logo and American flag on it speaks into a microphone sitting behind a large desk with a gray background behind him.

'We work for them, too': Artemis 2 moon mission is for everyone, NASA astronaut Victor Glover says (video)

By Elizabeth Howell, Tariq Malik published

NASA astronaut Victor Glover says he is not solely focused on milestones for the Artemis 2 mission, but also on how to engage different communities about the crew’s work.

3 Comments
Artemis
A man with gray hair wearing a blue flight suit with a circular NASA logo sits in front of the American and Canadian flags with a microphone in front of him

'It's all I think about': Artemis 2 commander Reid Wiseman is zeroed in on historic moon mission

By Elizabeth Howell, Tariq Malik published

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, commander Artemis 2, the first moon mission in more than 50 years, says his crew will do his best to get the job done well.

Artemis
A man with gray hair wearing a blue flight suit with a circular CSA logo answers a question using a microphone on the desk in front of him

Making Canadian history: Artemis 2 astronaut Jeremy Hansen is ready for his epic moon mission

By Elizabeth Howell, Tariq Malik published

Jeremy Hansen grew up in a world with no Canadian astronauts. Soon, the Artemis 2 crewmate wil become the first person from his country to fly around the moon.

Artemis
a triple-core rocket blasts off under a sunny, partly cloudy blue sky. smoke expands below next to an obscured launch tower, near a long white hanger with SPACEX written on the side. To the left, a bird flies away.

Rocket launch today: Is there a rocket launch and what time?

By Josh Dinner, Tariq Malik last updated

Follow Space.com's rocket launch blog for the latest on when the next rocket launch will be and how to follow it live.

Launches & Spacecraft
SpaceX Crew-12 Dragon flies free over the Earth during a sunrise

SpaceX Crew-12 mission latest news: It's docking day for Dragon astronauts

By Tariq Malik last updated

Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026: Updates on SpaceX and NASA's Crew-12 astronaut mission to the International Space Station.

International Space Station
a large barge approaches a white cone-shaped capsule in the ocean

ISS astronaut medical evacuation latest news: Crew-11 astronauts safely back on Earth

By Tariq Malik, Mike Wall, Josh Dinner last updated

NASA is returning four astronauts to Earth early from the International Space Station due to a medical concern with one of the Crew-11 astronauts. Here's the latest news.

International Space Station
a winged back and white orbiter standing on its landing gear is seen on museum display

NASA chief Jared Isaacman says Texas may get a moonship, not space shuttle Discovery

By Tariq Malik published

An Artemis Orion capsule could take space shuttle Discovery's place in Houston, NASA's new chief says.

34 Comments
Space Exploration
Tory Bruno, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, is seen during a press conference after the first launch attempt of NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test was scrubbed for the day, Monday, May 6, 2024, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Former United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno joins competitor Blue Origin for national security projects

By Tariq Malik published

Tory Bruno, the longtime chief of the launch provider United Launch Alliance (ULA) has joined the competition at Blue Origin.

3 Comments
Space Exploration

Iran says it launched 3 satellites to space on Russian rocket: report

By Tariq Malik published

Iran has launched a trio of new satellites into space with the help of a Russian rocket, the country's state media reported Sunday (Dec. 28).

2 Comments
Launches & Spacecraft

Longtime United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno resigns from space company. 'Finished the mission I came to do.'

By Tariq Malik published

Tory Bruno is leaving ULA to pursue new opportunities, the company said. Bruno says it will be "Something interesting."

5 Comments
Space Exploration
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