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
Chinese company Deep Blue Aerospace plans to start launching space tourists in 2027
By Mike Wall published
Chinese company Deep Blue Aerospace plans to start launching customers to suborbital space and back in 2027, for a price of about $210,000 per seat.
Watch SpaceX Crew-8 astronauts return to Earth early Oct. 25
By Mike Wall published
The astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-8 mission will return to Earth early Friday morning (Oct. 25), and you can watch their homecoming live.
Launch startup Astra gets up to $44 million from US military for new 'Rocket 4' line
By Mike Wall published
Launch startup Astra has secured a contract with the US military, worth up to $44 million, to continue developing its new Rocket 4 vehicle.
SpaceX launches next-gen US spy satellites on 100th Falcon 9 flight of the year (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched a batch of spy satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office today (Oct. 24) on the 100th Falcon 9 flight of the year.
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink broadband satellites to orbit from Florida (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 23 more of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida's Space Coast on Wednesday evening (Oct. 23).
Blue Origin launches 2nd human-rated New Shepard rocket, nails landing (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Blue Origin launched its second human-rated New Shepard vehicle on an uncrewed flight Wednesday morning (Oct. 23) and nailed the landing of both crew capsule and rocket.
SpaceX's Starlink internet flies on a Boeing 777 jet for the 1st time
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's Starlink satellites provided internet service on a Boeing 777 jet for the first time today (Oct. 22), during a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to London.
Watch SpaceX's Starship come down for nighttime splashdown during epic test flight (video)
By Mike Wall published
A new video shows the upper stage of SpaceX's Starship coming down for a nocturnal splashdown during its fifth test flight.
US Space Force awards SpaceX $730 million to launch at least 9 national-security missions
By Mike Wall published
The U.S. Space Force has awarded SpaceX $730 million to launch at least nine national security missions, seven of them for the Space Development Agency.
SpaceX launches 20 Starlink internet satellites from Florida (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched 20 more of its Starlink broadband satellites, including 13 with direct-to-cell capability, from Florida tonight (Oct. 18).
Richard Branson will co-pilot Space Perspective's 1st crewed balloon flight to edge of Earth's atmosphere
By Mike Wall published
Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson will serve as co-pilot on tourism company Space Perspective's first crewed balloon flight, expected to occur in 2025.
SpaceX plans to catch Starship upper stage with 'chopsticks' in early 2025, Elon Musk says
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX just caught the giant first-stage booster of its Starship megarocket — and it plans to do the same with the vehicle's upper stage soon.
SpaceX catches giant Starship booster with 'Chopsticks' on historic Flight 5 rocket launch and landing (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched its enormous Starship rocket for the fifth time ever today (Oct. 13), on a dramatic test flight that featured a mid-air catch of the first-stage Super Heavy booster.
SpaceX's Crew-8 astronauts to depart ISS for trip home soon amid weather delays
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX's Crew-8 astronaut mission for NASA was scheduled to depart the International Space Station early Sunday morning (Oct. 13), but NASA and SpaceX waved off the attempt due to weather.
FAA clears SpaceX to resume Falcon 9 rocket launches
By Mike Wall published
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced on Friday (Oct. 11) that it has given SpaceX the green light to resume launches of its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket.
'Stunning was the word': Astronauts snap amazing aurora photo from ISS during severe geomagnetic storm
By Mike Wall published
NASA astronauts Don Pettit and Matthew Dominick captured a supercharged, super-red aurora display from the International Space Station.
Dragon's-eye view: Astronaut captures amazing shots of Hurricane Milton from space (photos, video)
By Mike Wall published
NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick snapped striking photos of the powerful Hurricane Milton through the window of a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, which is docked to the ISS.
SpaceX rocket snaps amazing views of Earth during Hera asteroid probe launch (photos)
By Mike Wall published
The upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket captured amazing images of Earth Monday (Oct. 7) during the launch of Europa's Hera asteroid probe.
Hurricane Milton forces NASA, SpaceX to delay Crew-8 astronauts' return to Earth
By Mike Wall last updated
Hurricane Milton has pushed the return to Earth of SpaceX's Crew-8 astronaut mission for NASA to no earlier than Sunday (Oct. 13), a six-day delay at the minimum.
SpaceX, NASA stand down from Oct. 10 Europa Clipper launch due to Hurricane Milton
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX and NASA are standing down from the Oct. 10 launch of the Europa Clipper mission due to anticipated effects of Hurricane Milton. A new target date has not been announced.
ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rocket launches on 2nd test flight (video)
By Mike Wall published
United Launch Alliance's new Vulcan Centaur rocket just launched on its second-ever mission, a key test flight that keeps it on track for certification by the U.S. Space Force.
ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket is 'go' for 2nd-ever launch on Oct. 4
By Mike Wall published
United Launch Alliance's new Vulcan Centaur rocket is 'go' for its second-ever liftoff, a test flight scheduled to launch on Friday morning (Oct. 4).
FAA requires investigation of anomaly on SpaceX's Crew-9 astronaut launch
By Mike Wall published
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is requiring an investigation of the anomaly a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket experienced during the Crew-9 astronaut launch on Sept. 28.
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