
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

See gorgeous green auroras dance over Earth in dazzling ISS astronaut video
By Mike Wall published
NASA astronaut Don Pettit captured two amazing videos of the auroras from his unique perch above Earth last week.

Senator grills Jared Isaacman, Trump's pick for NASA chief, about Elon Musk's involvement in his job interview (video)
By Mike Wall published
Sen. Ed Markey asked Jared Isaacman multiple times whether Elon Musk was in the room during his interview with Donald Trump, but Isaacman declined to answer directly.

Watch Atlas V rocket launch 1st big batch of Amazon's Project Kuiper internet satellites
By Mike Wall last updated
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket will launch Amazon's first big batch of Project Kuiper broadband satellites today (April 9), and you can watch it live.

Trump's pick for NASA chief tells Senate he's aiming for the Red Planet. 'We will prioritize sending American astronauts to Mars'
By Mike Wall published
Billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, Donald Trump's pick to be the next NASA chief, shares the president's ambitious Mars goals.

NASA's Jonny Kim and 2 cosmonauts arrive at ISS aboard Russian Soyuz spacecraft (video)
By Mike Wall published
The Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and his two cosmonaut colleagues arrived at the International Space Station early Tuesday morning (April 8).

US Space Force awards $13.7 billion in launch contracts to SpaceX, ULA and Blue Origin
By Mike Wall published
The U.S. Space Force has awarded $13.7 billion in national-security launch contracts to SpaceX, United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin for missions that will lift off between 2027 and 2032.

Watch Soyuz rocket launch new US-Russian crew to the ISS early April 8
By Mike Wall published
A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch three astronauts toward the International Space Station early Tuesday morning (April 8), and you can watch the action live.

SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida's Space Coast (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX sent 28 of its Starlink internet satellites to low Earth orbit from Florida on Saturday night (April 5).

Fram2 astronaut mission's West Coast splashdown opens new era for SpaceX
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's Fram2 astronaut mission returned to Earth in the Pacific Ocean on Friday (April 4), marking a first for the spaceflight company.

Watch SpaceX's history-making Fram2 astronaut mission return to Earth today
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's Fram2, the first crewed mission ever to orbit Earth over its poles, will splash down today (April 4), and you can watch the action live.

SpaceX launches 27 Starlink satellites to orbit from California
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX sent 27 of its Starlink internet satellites toward low Earth orbit from California this evening (April 3).

SpaceX fires up used Super Heavy booster ahead of 9th Starship test flight (photos, videos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX is gearing up for the ninth test flight of its Starship megarocket, which will be the first to reuse the vehicle's Super Heavy first stage.

True Anomaly to launch 1st deep-space security missions with autonomous Jackal satellites in 2026
By Mike Wall published
Colorado-based startup True Anomaly plans to begin launching its autonomous Jackal satellites to geosynchronous orbit and Earth-moon space in 2026.

Atlas V rocket will launch Amazon's 1st big batch of Project Kuiper internet satellites on April 9
By Mike Wall published
Amazon's first big batch of Project Kuiper broadband satellites will lift off a week from now, if all goes according to plan.

Europe's life-hunting ExoMars rover gets new landing platform to replace canceled Russian craft
By Mike Wall published
The European Space Agency has picked Airbus to build the landing platform for the life-hunting ExoMars rover Rosalind Franklin, which is scheduled to launch in 2028.

Déjà vu: President Trump nominates Greg Autry again to be NASA's financial chief
By Mike Wall published
President Trump has nominated space policy expert Greg Autry to be NASA's chief financial officer, as he did back in 2020 to no avail.

Watch a private German rocket explode during 1st orbital launch attempt from European soil (video)
By Mike Wall published
A dramatic video shows Isar Aerospace's first orbital launch attempt, which ended with a fiery crash into the frigid sea about 30 seconds after liftoff.

FAA closes investigation into SpaceX Starship Flight 7 explosion
By Mike Wall published
The FAA has closed its investigation into the SpaceX Starship Flight 7 mishap, accepting the company's findings and verifying its corrective actions.

Watch SpaceX launch historic Fram2 astronaut mission over Earth's poles tonight (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX plans to launch the Fram2 astronaut mission over Earth's poles tonight (March 31), and you can watch the action live.

SpaceX rolls out rocket for historic Fram2 astronaut flight over Earth's poles (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX has rolled out the rocket and Crew Dragon capsule that will launch the Fram2 astronaut mission on Monday night (March 31).

NASA astronaut who gave up seat for Starliner crew takes command of SpaceX Crew-11 flight to ISS
By Mike Wall published
Zena Cardman, who was removed from an ISS launch to facilitate the return to Earth of Starliner's first crew, will command SpaceX's upcoming Crew-11 mission to the station.

Boeing's next Starliner launch for NASA could slip to early 2026 after fixes
By Mike Wall published
NASA and Boeing are still working on the thruster issues that Starliner experienced on its first crewed flight last year, so the capsule's next liftoff is a ways off yet.

US Space Force certifies new Vulcan Centaur rocket to launch national security missions
By Mike Wall published
The U.S. Space Force has certified ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rocket to launch national security missions, doubling the number of providers for such flights.
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