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
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 21 Starlink internet satellites to orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Jan. 27, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/si3HQoE6wZjXHgs9b5nYeT-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida (photos)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 21 more of its Starlink internet satellites today (Jan. 27) from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
![a white-and-blue rocket launches under a blue sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w9atEtDwKYqh6NoNCKPcmF-320-80.jpg)
Blue Origin to simulate moon gravity on Jan. 28 New Shepard suborbital launch
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin will launch the 29th mission of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle on Jan. 28, on an uncrewed research flight that will simulate lunar gravity conditions.
![a white rocket lifts off in the dark early morning above a pillar of fire](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XMAjrvtrDo6naaindajMH5-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites on 11th Falcon 9 rocket of 2025 (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 23 more of its Starlink internet satellites from California's central coast today in the company's 11th Falcon 9 rocket flight of 2025 (Jan. 24).
![The crew of the STS-51L mission of the space shuttle Challenger, which was lost shortly after launch on Jan. 28, 1986. Left to right: Mission Specialist Ellison S. Onizuka, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Payload Specialist Christa McAuliffe, Commander Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, Payload Specialist Gregory B. Jarvis, Mission Specialist Judith A. Resnik, Mission Specialist Ronald E. McNair.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qSruEdf9SsGJS3PNsy5oXa-320-80.jpg)
NASA honors fallen astronauts with 'Day of Remembrance' ceremony
By Mike Wall published
NASA honored its fallen space explorers during ceremonies at multiple sites on Thursday (Jan. 23).
![The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket rests on the deck of a drone ship shortly after launching 27 Starlink satellites from California on Jan. 21, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UKWvuqdeNuNE3aEbdq2AgT-320-80.jpg)
400 rocket landings! SpaceX notches reuse milestone
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX made some history during a Jan. 21 Starlink satellite launch from California, landing an orbital-class rocket for the 400th time.
![a man in a suit sits at a table covered in microphones in a large wood-paneled room](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MCErTkFj9Fre5staNDsBuM-320-80.jpg)
Bill Nelson steps down as NASA chief as Trump begins 2nd term
By Mike Wall published
Bill Nelson has stepped down as NASA administrator, ending a half-century of public service. Janet Petro is now the agency's interim chief.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 27 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Jan. 21, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xztkjUduy5d9dEMEjppFgk-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 27 Starlink satellites from California (video, photos)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 27 more of its Starlink internet satellites from California's central coast on Tuesday (Jan. 21).
![The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket rests on a drone ship shortly after launching 21 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida on Jan. 21, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/F3K8zUBqFEKLgabKLMc2Ag-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites to orbit on 1st flight since Starship explosion (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 21 of its Starlink internet satellites early Jan. 21, five days after a test flight of the company's Starship megarocket ended in an explosion.
![a handful of white and tan buildings, one with a large blue nasa logo, sit in the foothills of mountains.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EAmcWUK2dXjUwTgyJuffCg-320-80.jpg)
NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab to open next week after LA fires
By Mike Wall published
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California has come through the L.A. fires in one piece. It will open next week to employees who need to work on site.
![SpaceX's Starship vehicle launches on its seventh-ever test flight on Jan. 16, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SQ4mrSaRpVi9KzJXKHiiZf-320-80.jpg)
FAA requiring investigation into SpaceX Starship's Flight 7 explosion
By Mike Wall published
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is requiring an investigation into the explosion of SpaceX's Starship upper stage during the vehicle's seventh test flight on Jan. 16.
![The two stages of SpaceX's Starship megarocket separate during the vehicle's seventh test flight on Jan. 16, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eFWocvvHsYfAXLvYnFxeLn-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Starship explosion likely caused by propellant leak, Elon Musk says
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX has traced the likely cause of the explosion that destroyed its Starship vehicle during its Jan. 16 test flight to a leak of liquid oxygen or liquid methane.
![Earth as seen from the upper stage of SpaceX's seventh Starship vehicle during its test flight on Jan. 16, 2025. The vehicle suffered an anomaly and exploded in Earth's atmosphere around 8.5 minutes after launch.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GpSmniBDfNzN7eSG5E3fMP-320-80.jpg)
Watch SpaceX Starship explode over Atlantic Ocean on Flight Test 7 (videos)
By Brett Tingley, Mike Wall published
The upper stage of SpaceX's Starship megarocket exploded over the Atlantic Ocean during the vehicle's Flight 7 test today (Jan. 16), and lots of people saw the sky show.
![SpaceX's seventh Starship megarocket launches on a test flight on Jan. 16, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GQBRmUpQYc8H47UhAtETVn-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX catches Super Heavy booster on Starship Flight 7 test but loses upper stage (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX pulled off a launch-tower catch of Starship's Super Heavy booster during a test flight today (Jan. 16) but lost the vehicle's upper stage.
![An illustration of two Indian satellites nearing each other in orbit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6v7sx5bYrarndUWp9rH4BT-320-80.png)
Major milestone! India becomes 4th nation to dock satellites in orbit
By Mike Wall published
India successfully docked its two SpaDex satellites in Earth orbit yesterday (Jan. 15), becoming just the fourth country to pull off such a satellite meetup.
![Astronauts perform a spacewalk outside the International Space Station.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fLCJnjX8NZXtw892UPHr3R-320-80.jpg)
Watch 2 NASA astronauts repair X-ray telescope on ISS during a spacewalk today
By Mike Wall published
NASA's Nick Hague and Suni Williams will service the X-ray telescope attached to the ISS during a 6.5-hour-long spacewalk today (Jan. 16). Watch it live.
![Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander is seen here attached to the upper stage of its SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket shortly before its deployment on Jan. 15, 2025.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hf4DmgPRrDVKNGkPg7ZhwF-320-80.jpg)
What's next for the 2 private landers SpaceX just launched toward the moon?
By Mike Wall published
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket just launched lunar landers built by Firefly Aerospace and Tokyo-based company ispace. What's next for the two craft?
![The upper stage of SpaceX's Starship megarocket rolls out to the launch pad at the company's Starbase site on Jan. 9, 2025 ahead of a planned Jan. 13 test flight.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q4CkGh4b95B62rf7G5A5g5-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launching Starship Flight 7 on Jan. 16: Watch it live
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX is set to launch the seventh test flight of its Starship megarocket on Thursday (Jan. 16) at 5 p.m. EST (2200 GMT), and you can watch the action live.
![a white rocket lifts off under cloudless blue skies](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eFnXgCQMNeUuYsWV9W2dGn-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 131 satellites on Transporter 12 rideshare mission (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 131 satellites to orbit today (Jan. 14) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, on a rideshare mission called Transporter 12.
![a cube-shaped spacecraft covered in gold foil sits on a dolly in a white cleanroom](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZPR7aFWjvCvhTbfppV5UfA-320-80.jpg)
Watch SpaceX launch 2 private moon landers on a single rocket early Jan. 15
By Mike Wall published
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch moon landers built by Firefly Aerospace and the Japanese company ispace early Wednesday (Jan. 15), and you can watch it live.
![a white rocket lifts off above a plume of fire](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/S5UFAsmgLQwzLofWk8fYJo-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites from Florida, lands booster for 15th time (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 21 more of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida's Space Coast this morning (Jan. 13).
![Blue Origin's first New Glenn rocket stands on the pad on Jan. 13, 2025, ahead of its planned liftoff that day.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AyiUKJCqfdYFTjsGvFE5hJ-320-80.jpg)
Blue Origin scrubs 1st New Glenn rocket launch due to technical issue
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin called off the debut launch of its powerful New Glenn rocket this morning (Jan. 13) due to a technical issue.
![a white rocket stands on a launch pad at night](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TwANJ7hvdNPu8oHNmy93fm-320-80.jpg)
Watch Blue Origin launch its 1st New Glenn rocket early Jan. 16 in a free livestream
By Mike Wall last updated
Blue Origin plans to launch the debut mission of its powerful New Glenn rocket early Thursday morning (Jan. 16), and you can watch the action live.
![a handful of white and tan buildings, one with a large blue nasa logo, sit in the foothills of mountains.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EAmcWUK2dXjUwTgyJuffCg-320-80.jpg)
NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab still 'untouched' by raging LA fires
By Mike Wall published
The powerful Eaton fire has not reached the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, NASA's lead center for robotic planetary exploration.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 21 Starlink internet satellites to orbit from Florida on Jan. 10, 2025. It was the 25th liftoff for the rocket’s first stage, a new record for the company.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kb59nvx2zhLGU2MFzmdotR-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches Starlink satellites on record-breaking 25th flight (video, photos)
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 21 Starlink satellites from Florida today (Jan. 10). It was the 25th mission for the rocket's first stage, a new record.
Get the Space.com Newsletter
Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!