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.

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

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus NG-16 cargo ship.

Northrop Grumman picks Firefly to replace Russian engines on Antares rocket

By Tariq Malik published

Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket is about to get an all-American upgrade with the help of Firefly Aerospace.

Private Spaceflight
An illustration of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope fully unfolded in space.

Scientist admits 'space telescope' photo is actually chorizo in tasty Twitter prank

By Tariq Malik published

A physicist's stunning new photo of Proxima Centauri from the James Webb Space Telescope, was just a slice of chorizo.

Space Exploration
A Rocket Lab Electron booster seen at sunset in orange light.

You can watch 4 different rocket launches in free webcasts today

By Tariq Malik last updated

If you're a fan of spaceflight, then Thursday will be a banner day with no less than four different rockets launching missions off planet Earth.

Launches & Spacecraft
NASA's Artemis 1 Space Launch System megarocket and Orion capsule on their Florida launchpad under a blue sky.

NASA will preview its Artemis 1 moon mission today. Here's how to watch for free.

By Tariq Malik published

NASA is weeks away from launching its first Artemis flight to the moon and you can learn all about it in free webcasts this week.

Artemis
The full moon as seen from the International Space Station on Dec, 20, 2021.

Watch the full moon dance over one year in stunning time-lapse video by photographer

By Tariq Malik published

A new time-lapse video from astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy shows the moon's dance, or libration, over a year of full moons.

Stargazing
A Chinese Long March 5B rocket launches the Wentian module of China's Tiangong space station on July 24, 2022.

See China's huge uncontrolled rocket debris fall from space in fiery skywatcher videos

By Tariq Malik published

A huge Chinese rocket fell back to Earth this weekend in a dazzling (if fiery) display as it broke apart during reentry as it plunged from space over the Indian Ocean.

Stargazing
The sun radiates huge amounts of electromagnetic energy in all directions. Earth is only one small recipient of the sun's energy; the sun's rays extend far out into the solar system, illuminating all the other planets.

Advertise with us

By Tariq Malik last updated

Interested in partnering with LiveScience or Space.com? Get in touch with us.

Entertainment
A large fiery flare from the sun is hitting Earth.

The worst solar storms in history

By Tariq Malik published

Reference Earth is no stranger to the sun's wrath. From solar flares to coronal mass ejections, we take a look at some of the worst solar storms in history.

Reference
A Rocket Lab Electron booster on the launch pad with the CAPSTONE mission and purple clouds.

Watch NASA's CAPSTONE cubesat launch to the moon today to test unique lunar orbit

By Tariq Malik last updated

Rocket Lab will launch NASA's CAPSTONE cubesat to the moon from New Zealand atop an Electron booster, and you can watch it live online.

Artemis
A Rocket Lab Electron booster on the launch pad with the CAPSTONE mission and purple clouds.

NASA's CAPSTONE cubesat launch to the moon delayed again for systems checks

By Tariq Malik published

NASA has called off plans to launch a small cubesat to the moon on Monday (June 27) to allow more time to check its Rocket Lab booster for flight.

Artemis
This still image from a NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory video shows a powerful X1.1-class solar flare erupting from the sunspot AR2994 as it turns away from Earth on April 30, 2022.

Sun erupts with powerful solar flare from departing sunspot

By Tariq Malik last updated

An active sunspot on the sun turning away from Earth unleashed a powerful parting shot as it moved out of view on Saturday (April 30).

The Sun
A view of NASA's Artemis 1 SLS moon rocket on the launch pad on June 12, 2022 at dawn.

Watch NASA's Artemis 1 moon rocket fueling test live on the launch pad for free

By Tariq Malik published

NASA's new SLS megarocket for Artemis 1 is back on the launch pad and you can hear commentary for free.

Artemis
The International Space Station with the bright Earth below.

International Space Station dodges orbital debris from Russian anti-satellite test

By Tariq Malik published

A piece of Russian space junk forced the International Space Station to steer clear to avoid a chance encounter with orbital debris on Thursday (June 16).

International Space Station
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 46 Starlink internet satellites

SpaceX to launch 3 rockets from 3 pads in 3 days this weekend

By Tariq Malik last updated

SpaceX aims to launch three rockets from three different launch pads in three days starting on Friday (June 17).

Launches & Spacecraft
The supermoon of December 2017 rises in a NASA photo.

Strawberry supermoon: June full moon free webcast canceled due to clouds

By Tariq Malik published

Here's how to watch the full Strawberry supermoon of June 2022 rise over Rome for free online on June 14.

Stargazing
An image of Astra's LV0010 rocket launching the NASA TROPICS mission.

Astra rocket suffers major failure during launch, 2 NASA satellites lost

By Tariq Malik last updated

An Astra rocket carrying two small hurricane-tracking satellites for NASA failed to reach orbit Sunday (June 12) after a major malfunction.

Satellites
Star map of Dschubba and the moon on June 12, 2022.

The moon will block a bright double star tonight. Here's how to see it.

By Tariq Malik published

The nearly full moon will block a bright double star in the night sky tonight (June 12). Here's how to see it.

Stargazing
Sky map of the locations of Venus and Uranus on June 11, 2022.

Spot Uranus near Venus in the predawn sky on Sunday

By Tariq Malik published

The brilliant planet Venus will shine near Uranus before sunrise early Sunday (June 12). Here's how to see them.

Solar System
A view of the Mars rover Perseverance's pet rock in its left front wheel on Feb. 6, 2022.

NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars has a 'pet rock' along for the ride

By Tariq Malik last updated

NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars has picked up a "pet rock" hitchhiker that has held on for months.

Mars Rovers
Three different views of the Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 by astrophysicist Gianluca Masi, Bellatrix Observatory, Virtual Telescope Project.

How to watch the potential tau Herculids meteor storm live online tonight

By Tariq Malik published

A free Virtual Telescope Project webcast will stream live views of the potential meteor storm from the tau Herculids meteor shower overnight on May 30-31.

Meteors & Meteor Showers
An artist's depiction of NASA's MAVEN spacecraft in orbit around Mars.

A navigation glitch on NASA's Mars orbiter MAVEN has stalled its science work

By Tariq Malik published

A navigation system glitch on NASA's MAVEN orbiter at Mars earlier this year has hobbled science.

Satellites
The sun unleashed a major X1.1 class solar flare from an active sunspot cluster on its eastern limb on April 17, 2022 GMT. This view was taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.

Huge explosion on sun unleashes major solar flare on Easter

By Tariq Malik last updated

The sun unleashed a major solar flare over the Easter holiday weekend, likely setting the stage for more solar storms to come.

The Sun
A SpaceX rocket launch tracking camera view of the moon.

These SpaceX moon and sunrise Starlink satellite launch photos are just incredible

By Tariq Malik published

A stunning SpaceX Starlink satellite fleet launch on May 18 included amazing views of the moon and sunrise.

Satellites
Photo of Boeing's Starliner approaching the ISS by astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.

Boeing's 1st Starliner to visit space station looks spectacular in these astronaut photos

By Tariq Malik published

Astronaut photos of Boeing's first uncrewed Starliner spacecraft to visit the station capture its Friday docking in stunning detail.

International Space Station
Boeing's Starliner OFT-2 spacecraft and its Atlas V rocket at the launch pad on May 18, 2022.

Boeing's Starliner rolls to launch pad on Atlas V rocket for critical NASA test flight

By Tariq Malik published

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft rolled out to its Florida launch pad Wednesday (May 18) for a crucial test flight.

International Space Station
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