Tariq Malik
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.
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
![InSight's 'final selfie' of April 24, 2022 shows a solar-powered lander caked in Martian dust.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3bJuDPq6oyCE6A9jz4jS8W-320-80.jpg)
NASA's InSight lander on Mars goes silent as power runs low
By Tariq Malik published
NASA lost contact with its Mars InSight lander on Monday (Dec. 18) after the spacecraft failed to respond to communications from its control team.
![This photo may be the final Mars picture beamed home by NASA's InSight lander on the Red Planet as its power supply dwindles. It was released on Dec. 19, 2022.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TD5hPB3mdCsYmyqGy3odLX-320-80.jpg)
This may be the last Mars photo from NASA's InSight lander before it dies on the Red Planet
By Tariq Malik published
This photo from NASA's InSight lander on Mars just may be its last as the power-starved lander approaches the end of its life on the Red Planet.
![A Rocket Lab Electron rocket on its Virginia launch pad at night](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eRT98ikRSLLLcRhSyJwFR4-320-80.jpg)
Watch Rocket Lab attempt its 1st US launch with an Electron booster soon after delay [updated]
By Tariq Malik last updated
After years of launching rockets from New Zealand, the commercial space company Rocket Lab is ready for its U.S. launch debut.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying two SES O3b mPower satellites launches into the sunset sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KVDpLKFKwXpqC8GyWssKAb-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX rocket launch at sunset wows some stargazers with ethereal 'space jellyfish' (photos)
By Tariq Malik published
When SpaceX launch two satellites into orbit Friday evening from Florida, it lit up the night sky with more than just its fiery engines.
![The Russian-built Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft docked at the International Space Station above a blue Earth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eQSPoZkXhcbuNxUuUPbDy4-320-80.jpg)
Leaky Soyuz spacecraft tests thrusters at space station, US spacewalk delayed
By Tariq Malik published
A leaky Russian-built Soyuz capsule at the International Space Station test-fired its thrusters on Friday (Dec. 16) as part of troubleshooting efforts.
![Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina inspects the leaking Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft (right) with the European Robotic Arm on the International Space Station on Dec. 14, 2022.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PFXp7Yei4KKZ3tcJ2nfp2h-320-80.jpg)
Soyuz capsule leak at space station prompts Russia to postpone another spacewalk
By Tariq Malik published
Russia's space agency has called off another spacewalk at the International Space Station as engineers investigate a coolant leak on a docked Soyuz spacecraft.
![At 12:40 p.m. EST, Dec. 11, 2022, NASA’s Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after a 25.5 day mission to the Moon. Orion will be recovered by NASA’s Landing and Recovery team, U.S. Navy and Department of Defense partners aboard the USS Portland ship.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4k9WE3AmBeJ6Tm6cRFrgrH-320-80.jpg)
NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission: Mission updates archive
By Tariq Malik, Elizabeth Howell published
See the archive about NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission here.
![A Rocket Lab Electron rocket on its Virginia launch pad with a blue sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rTVUS2vDhgnHPMHJgHu9KZ-320-80.jpg)
Rocket Lab now aims to launch 1st Electron booster from US soil on Dec. 18
By Tariq Malik last updated
The commercial launch company Rocket Lab will have to wait a few more days for its first-ever launch from U.S. soil.
![NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft with the crescent Earth in the background on Dec. 10, 2022.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/urRLRkxgDFgxyBxDKapVZH-320-80.jpg)
What time does the Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft splash down on Dec. 11 to end NASA's moon mission?
By Tariq Malik published
NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft will end a 26-day mission to the moon on Sunday, Dec. 11, and here's what time to watch.
![A portion of the far side of the moon as seen from the Orion spacecraft on Nov. 21, 2022 during the Artemis 1 mission.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ccc4udto35UQXQuoZsCnMg-320-80.jpg)
Watch NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft return to Earth in these free webcasts
By Jeff Spry, Tariq Malik last updated
NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft is returning to Earth from the moon on its historic uncrewed test flight and you can see live views and mission updates from NASA right now for free.
![Save 32% on a subscription to All About Space with this Christmas offer](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SX8rgG9HGpXF3Mg5QvzxzQ-320-80.jpg)
Holiday sale: Save 32% on your subscription to All About Space magazine, plus read a free issue here!
By Tariq Malik last updated
Subscribe to All About Space today from just $8.77 per issue, in this holiday sale, saving you a massive 32%.
![Fortnite characters use a campfire while watching the Chapter 4 island in the distance.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/m84PugwJpwQcG4Dho6Ui8d-320-80.jpg)
Fortnite's Chapter 3 finale event 'Fracture' just launched players to space to reforge the island
By Tariq Malik published
Epic Games' Fortnite Chapter 3 finale event destroyed the battle royale game's island battleground on Saturday (Dec. 3), then launched players into space to build a new one.
![Discovery Plus Cyber Monday deal](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8k7nGuM5iCfwuzyf948hYn-320-80.jpg)
You can get 3 months of Discovery+ at $0.99 a month for Cyber Monday, but act fast
By Tariq Malik published
Deals Right now, you can get Discovery+ for just $0.99 for the first three months, saving you $12 off the usual $4.99 per month price.
![Black friday main image featuring unistellar, vaonis telescopes and meta quest 2 with black friday deal logo](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NJUJEJFBhLGbVPVyvXuXEj-320-80.jpg)
Black Friday Deals live now: Telescopes, VR headsets, Lego and more
By Tariq Malik last updated
Deals Our Cyber Monday space deals coverage is underway with the freshest deals on telescopes, star projectors, drones, Lego and more.
![Cyber Monday Lego Millennium Falcon deal](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aD2UxhdgRNAir2bjxTT5bN-320-80.jpg)
Last chance to save $180 on Lego's epic Star Wars UCS Millennium Falcon for Cyber Monday
By Tariq Malik published
Deals This deal will fly away fast. Lego's stunning Star Wars UCS Millennium Falcon is rarely on sale and at one of the lowest prices for the year, at a chill $669.99 at Zavvi.
![A view of the first RS1 rocket by ABL Space Systems on its pad on Kodiak Island, Alaska on during a Nov. 17, 2022 launch attempt.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nrYggxfwjRgkHFH4aqYxzS-320-80.jpg)
Rocket startup ABL Space Systems aborts 3rd launch attempt in a week
By Tariq Malik published
ABL Space Systems, a small satellite launching startup aiming to make its rocket debut, aborted its third launch attempt in less than a week on Monday (Nov. 21).
![The moon as seen from an Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft solar array camera on Nov. 18, 2022.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pF86Fu9FiPr8EhHrU9zVkX-320-80.jpg)
Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft sees the moon for 1st time in stunning video
By Tariq Malik published
NASA's Orion spacecraft has spotted the destination of its Artemis 1 test flight the moon and captured a stunning video to mark the moment.
![An illustration of NASA's Orion spacecraft with the moon in background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/poXCvjkPg3KhUcrj6eEvae-320-80.jpg)
Spot NASA's Artemis 1 Orion on its way to the moon in a free livestream (Nov. 19)
By Tariq Malik last updated
NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft is headed to the moon and you have a chance to see the spacecraft in a telescope online Saturday night (Nov. 19).
![PC Gaming Show 2023 Preview title card for the show](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PdCGttGuXATbqdNp7BPhiR-320-80.jpg)
Watch the PC Gaming Show: 2023 preview for free today to prep for your next sci-fi gaming year
By Tariq Malik last updated
You can see what's coming next in space gaming and beyond in the PC Gaming Show: 2023 Preview today (Nov. 17).
![huge artemis 1 rocket on the launch pad at night](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kZN9BxmzQK799MmRbzy4Bk-320-80.jpg)
What time is NASA's Artemis 1 moon rocket launch on Nov. 16?
By Tariq Malik last updated
NASA's Artemis 1 SLS rocket launch to the moon is scheduled to launch on Nov. 16 at 1:04 a.m. EST (0604 GMT).
![NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet carry a new solar array for the International Space Station in a June 6, 2021 spacewalk.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oafsHur94RSxNiHodcVYhN-320-80.jpg)
Watch NASA astronauts take a spacewalk outside space station today
By Tariq Malik published
Two NASA astronauts will float outside the International Space Station today to prepare the orbiting lab for new solar wings and you can watch it live online.
![The Flower Moon lunar eclipse over NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans on May 15, 2022.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WzsbrvGehawdQW5TimN8k9-320-80.jpg)
How to watch the Blood Moon lunar eclipse for free online, the last until 2025
By Tariq Malik last updated
You can see a Blood Moon total lunar eclipse on Nov. 8, the last until 2025. Here's how to watch it online for free.
![This NASA graphic shows the stages of the total lunar eclipse of Nov. 8, 2022 in Eastern time.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RKLrFNUhqBosd78D5DuBEG-320-80.jpg)
What time is the Blood Moon total lunar eclipse on Nov. 8?
By Tariq Malik last updated
The last total lunar eclipse until 2025 will turn the moon a blood-red hue on Tuesday, Nov. 8, but exactly when you should look up depends on where you are.