Mike Wall
Michael Wall is a Senior Space Writer with Space.com and joined the team in 2010. He primarily covers exoplanets, spaceflight and military space, but has been known to dabble in the space art beat. His book about the search for alien life, "Out There," was published on Nov. 13, 2018. Before becoming a science writer, Michael worked as a herpetologist and wildlife biologist. He has a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney, Australia, a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz. To find out what his latest project is, you can follow Michael on Twitter.
Latest articles by Mike Wall
![Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket launches on its debut flight from Florida on Jan. 16, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9rVW6GG939KMQhjcC6F2sE-320-80.jpg)
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin laying off 1,000 employees: reports
By Mike Wall published
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is laying off about 1,000 employees, according to media reports. That's about 10% of the aerospace company's workforce.
![Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander captured this photo of the moon shortly after arriving in lunar orbit on Feb. 13, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ey2vb6wePrEpqVjknd8cre-320-80.jpg)
Welcome to the moon! Firefly's Blue Ghost lander reaches lunar orbit (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost moon lander reached lunar orbit on Thursday (Feb. 13) and snapped some photos to commemorate the milestone.
![Blue Origin launches its first New Glenn rocket from Pad 36 of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Jan. 16, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WTKWznfDTyDws3NrBTWvX4-320-80.png)
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin targeting late spring for 2nd launch of powerful New Glenn rocket
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin aims to launch its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket for the second time in late spring, after making modifications designed to help the vehicle's first stage stick its landing this time.
![An artist's impression of astronauts working on the surface of the moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xf3RZ7mgCu6S7fpWF8HHpk-320-80.jpg)
Moon or Mars? Why not both, acting NASA head Janet Petro says
By Mike Wall published
NASA still views the moon as a stepping stone to Mars, even though Elon Musk has dismissed Earth's nearest neighbor as "a distraction."
![An artist’s concept of the Pandora mission, seen here without the thermal blanketing that will protect the spacecraft, observing a star and its transiting exoplanet.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uYySDaERvtHkJ4SLmDcUZN-320-80.jpg)
NASA picks SpaceX to launch Pandora exoplanet mission
By Mike Wall published
NASA's Pandora exoplanet-studying probe will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than this fall.
![Boom Supersonic's XB-1 demonstrator vehicle conducts its 13th and final test flight on Feb. 10, 2025. The jet broke the sound barrier three times during the flight.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HPPRoaYE6SK4PqPitbPjaP-320-80.jpg)
Boom Supersonic's XB-1 jet breaks sound barrier 3 times on final test flight (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
Boom Supersonic's XB-1 pathfinder vehicle went out in style on Monday (Feb. 10), breaking the sound barrier three times on its 13th and final test flight.
![Illustration of Intuitive Machine's first Micro-Nova hopper, named Grace, on the surface of the moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6veU92WmjBwv8QLrWMkEAo-320-80.jpg)
Crater-diving hopper 'Gracie' will launch to the moon aboard private Athena lander this month
By Mike Wall published
Intuitive Machines' second lunar lander will carry four mobile robots, including a hopper named Gracie, toward the moon when it launches late this month.
![a white and black rocket climbs into a blue sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ThX4FBzE5RZaUvM98MLK3H-320-80.jpg)
Rocket Lab launches 'Internet of Things' satellites from New Zealand (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Rocket Lab launched five "Internet of Things" satellites for the French company Kinéis from New Zealand on Saturday (Feb. 8).
![a black and white rocket launches from into a blue sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pfQoqc5ZCo9yMPefJhHAXD-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites from Florida (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 21 more of the company's Starlink internet satellites to orbit from Florida's Space Coast on Saturday (Feb. 8).
![a grey-haired man in a short-sleeved white collared shirt talks into a microphone at a long table](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/quMZYyCLg3rnLgCCXkLwS4-320-80.jpg)
Putin axes Yuri Borisov, head of Russia's space agency
By Mike Wall published
Vladimir Putin has dismissed Roscosmos chief Yuri Borisov, who led the Russian space agency for a turbulent 2.5-year stretch.
![Artist's illustration of Astrobotic's Griffin lunar lander and Astrolab's FLIP rover on the moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZFxQGDNGSQyajmfxQmurcn-320-80.jpg)
Private FLIP moon rover replaces NASA's cancelled VIPER on 2025 lunar south pole mission
By Mike Wall published
Astrolab's FLIP moon rover has replaced NASA's VIPER vehicle on the first-ever mission of Astrobotic's Griffin lunar lander, which is scheduled to launch in late 2025.
![Artist's illustration of Atmos Space Cargo's hardware in Earth orbit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ihTDar3HRcfjgiC5bDXJbU-320-80.jpg)
German company Atmos launching 1st cargo-return capsule on upcoming SpaceX mission
By Mike Wall published
Atmos Space Cargo will fly its first Phoenix cargo-return capsule on SpaceX's Bandwagon 3 rideshare mission, which is scheduled to launch this spring.
![The first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket heads back to Earth for a landing on Feb. 4, 2025 (left), while the upper stage (right) carries Maxar Technologies' WorldView Legion 5 and 6 satellites to orbit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CkWGBGyeHFb6rchQhL8BgE-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 2 Maxar Earth-observing satellites to orbit (video, photos)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched two Earth-imaging satellites today (Feb. 4), further building out Maxar Technologies' sharp-eyed WorldView Legion constellation.
![a four-wheeled robot in a cleanroom under UV lights](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MoJwdBZFvo7DWzJnssQ2tm-320-80.jpg)
VIPER back from the dead? NASA asks US companies to partner on ice-hunting moon rover
By Mike Wall published
NASA is asking U.S. companies for proposals to move forward with the ice-hunting VIPER moon rover, a $450 million project the agency canceled last summer.
![a squat white rocket with a domed top lifts off from the desert floor](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hxPXCh2aeTLEgszJqcHgja-320-80.jpg)
Blue Origin mimics moon gravity on 1st-of-its-kind New Shepard research rocket launch (video)
By Mike Wall published
Jeff Bezos' spaceflight company Blue Origin simulated lunar gravity conditions today (Feb. 4) during the 29th launch of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle.
![spacex starlink launch from Florida on Feb. 4, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/d6nn7un5tvMpYBvQeqbadf-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites from Florida on 15th launch of 2025 (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 21 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station early Tuesday morning (Feb. 4).
![Blue Origin's New Shepard suborbital vehicle stands on the launch pad at the company's West Texas site on Jan. 28, 2025. A liftoff planned for that day was scrubbed due to weather and an avionics issue.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ojUXru2yyPg67GpnZ7B2JD-320-80.jpg)
Blue Origin to launch New Shepard moon-gravity mission on Feb. 4 after glitch
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin is targeting Feb. 4 for the 29th launch of its New Shepard suborbital rocket, which was postponed from Jan. 28 due to weather and technical issues.
![A Japanese H3 rocket launches the Michibiki 6 navigation satellite from Tanegashima Space Center on Feb. 2, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6FCQ8Hg7P8msNbwuK9w5oT-320-80.jpg)
Japan launches navigation satellite on nation's 1st mission of 2025 (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A Japanese H3 rocket launched the Michibiki 6 navigation satellite early Sunday morning (Feb. 2), the nation's first liftoff of 2025.
![NASA astronauts Suni Williams (left) and Butch Wilmore talk about voting from the International Space Station.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/smYyfVjinvpwBbmAuLSyoY-320-80.jpg)
Trump asks Elon Musk to return 2 Starliner astronauts from the ISS for NASA — but they already have a SpaceX ride home
By Mike Wall last updated
President Trump just asked Elon Musk to retrieve two NASA astronauts from the International Space Station. But the duo are already slated to come home with SpaceX this spring.
![Artist's illustration of Planet's Pelican-2 Earth-observing satellite in orbit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q63irbgpLwYZvnujUPAShW-320-80.jpg)
Earth-observing company Planet signs $230 million deal for fleet of new Pelican satellites
By Mike Wall published
The Earth-observation company Planet just inked its largest deal to date, a $230 million contract to deliver a fleet of its new Pelican satellites.
![a large white rocket launches into a dark night sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hE3eR7X54Baih84vvbNcHU-320-80.jpg)
India launches navigation satellite into orbit on nation's 1st mission of 2025
By Mike Wall last updated
India launched the NVS-02 regional navigation satellite to orbit this evening (Jan. 28), the 100th liftoff from the nation's Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
![Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander snapped this selfie with the moon in the background from Earth orbit. Firefly posted the image on X on Jan. 27, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iTyAUoQ5MtzhxRfirxM444-320-80.jpg)
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander snaps its 1st photos of the moon (images)
By Mike Wall published
The moon has come into view for Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost spacecraft, which is scheduled to land on Earth's nearest neighbor a month or so from now.
![Blue Origin's New Shepard suborbital vehicle stands on the launch pad at the company's West Texas site on Jan. 28, 2025. A liftoff planned for that day was scrubbed due to weather and an avionics issue.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ojUXru2yyPg67GpnZ7B2JD-320-80.jpg)
Blue Origin scrubs landmark New Shepard moon-gravity launch due to weather, rocket glitch
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin scrubbed the planned 29th launch of its New Shepard suborbital rocket today (Jan. 28) due to uncooperative weather and a vehicle issue.
Get the Space.com Newsletter
Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!