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 20 Starlink internet satellites to orbit from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base on Nov. 9, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uaiuFNtbY6iSL2vXmF3yGN-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 20 Starlink satellites from California (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 20 Starlink internet satellites, including 13 with direct-to-cell capability, from California early Saturday morning (Nov. 9).
![three people in dark blue polo shirts sit at a table during a press conference](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/o4kJNRjxLxjGuBdhuMPpUP-320-80.jpg)
NASA still mum about SpaceX Crew-8 astronaut's medical issue
By Mike Wall published
NASA is not yet providing details about what caused a SpaceX Crew-8 astronaut to be hospitalized late last month, citing medical privacy concerns.
![a large rocket launches into a dawn sky from a seaside pad](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YB3rzeQQbmE88jgtXmCcbT-320-80.jpg)
China planning to build its own version of SpaceX's Starship
By Mike Wall published
China aims to develop its own reusable megarocket over the coming decade, and it will look a lot like SpaceX's Starship vehicle.
![a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a blue sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XuHJHbnMtGfuZPzXQYhSAe-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 23 more Starlink satellites from Florida (video, photos)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched yet another batch of its Starlink internet satellites this afternoon (Nov. 7) from Florida's Space Coast.
![a man and a woman on the international space station, in a module full of wires, computers and other equipment](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hNxoYDo3Zg2BTrPjmnMFQb-320-80.jpg)
Astronaut Suni Williams 'in good health' on the ISS, NASA says, refuting tabloid claims
By Mike Wall published
NASA astronaut Suni Williams is in good health aboard the ISS, despite some speculation in the media to the contrary, agency officials stress.
![a huge rocket comes in for a landing beside its seaside launch tower](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3wSVbqxH8udGsGkpjFFkCT-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX targeting Nov. 18 for next Starship megarocket launch
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's Starship megarocket will fly for the sixth time ever on Nov. 18, on a test flight that will include another dramatic booster catch.
![The world's first wooden satellite, LignoSat, developed by scientists at Kyoto University and logging company Sumitomo Forestry, is shown during a press conference at Kyoto University in Kyoto on May 28, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7P99nPQPLGUDzHMqzHnLDg-320-80.jpg)
World's 1st wooden satellite arrives at ISS for key orbital test
By Mike Wall published
LignoSat could help change the way we build satellites.
![A Biden administration is expected to prioritize Earth science and climate change research.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GbJp7mcnZX9kGZfF746LCW-320-80.jpg)
Presidential Visions for Space Exploration: From Ike to Biden
By Mike Wall last updated
A brief look at how each American president helped shape and steer American activities in space.
![a black and white rocket launches at night](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Zms8touPUq6iXUMkWQC2rE-320-80.png)
Rocket Lab launches mystery mission on company's 12th launch of 2024 (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Liftoff of the mission, which was for a "confidential commercial customer," took place at 5:56 a.m. ET on Tuesday (Nov. 5).
![a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a night sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/d3LhSawRAbDjk6CSnConR9-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 3 tons of cargo on 31st ISS resupply flight for NASA (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched nearly 6,000 pounds of supplies to the International Space Station today (Nov. 4), on the company's 31st cargo mission for NASA.
![a yellow and white rocket launches from a seaside pad](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yAarBTJNTQLeCMsnxwGST7-320-80.png)
Japan launches military communications satellite on 4th flight of H3 rocket (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Japan launched the Kirameki 3 military communications satellite Monday morning (Nov. 4), on the fourth-ever flight of the country's H3 rocket.
![a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a cloudy sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dn9T8bdUsxfhkPHRSmrmwm-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites from Florida (video, photos)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 23 more of its Starlink internet satellites today (Oct. 30) from Florida's Space Coast.
![Buzz Aldrin, and Neil Armstrong reflected in his helmet, during the moon landing in 1969.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KXg3xKxV87AAvbVBAg4Srj-320-80.jpg)
Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin endorses Trump for president
By Mike Wall published
Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second person ever to walk on the moon, endorsed Donald Trump in a statement released today (Oct. 30).
![SpaceX's Falcon 9 launches a batch of Starlink satellites Oct. 30, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jYukeR6mHwJ4F6HzXqha7e-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 20 Starlink internet satellites from California on Oct. 30 (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX plans to launch another batch of its Starlink internet satellites, including 13 with direct-to-cell capability, from California Wednedday morning (Oct. 30).
![looking down the slope of a crater rim on mars, with rover tracks in the foreground](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BWdjMbMUzbcSgW33CYWqLY-320-80.jpg)
NASA's Perseverance rover gets stunning view of big Mars crater from slippery slope (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
NASA's Perseverance rover took a break from its Mars mountaineering expedition recently to survey its old stomping grounds.
![a huge rocket comes in for a landing beside its seaside launch tower](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3wSVbqxH8udGsGkpjFFkCT-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX's Starship booster was '1 second away' from aborting epic launch-tower catch
By Mike Wall published
Super Heavy, the giant first-stage booster of SpaceX's Starship megarocket, nearly aborted its historic launch-tower catch during this month's test flight.
![black and white thermal image of a space capsule descending through earth's atmosphere under parachutes](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iVeqZCyeGpyjXLPSkfoq57-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Crew-8 astronaut released from hospital, returns to Houston
By Mike Wall published
The NASA astronaut who was hospitalized for a night after the splashdown of SpaceX's Crew-8 mission has been released and is doing well, according to the agency.
![illustration of two astronauts in white spacesuits working on the moon, with earth in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xf3RZ7mgCu6S7fpWF8HHpk-320-80.jpg)
Chile and Cyprus join Artemis Accords for responsible moon exploration
By Mike Wall published
Chile and Cyprus have signed the Artemis Accords, bringing the number of nations in the moon-exploration coalition to 47.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink satellites lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WpTcpi66pNCHSFBtFiEshM-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 22 Starlink internet satellites from Florida (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida's Space Coast on Saturday evening (Oct. 26).
![four black and white photos showing closeup looks at a spacecraft in earth orbit](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mM7LfEtcX3KEvKAhQ9YgGY-320-80.jpg)
NASA's solar-sailing spacecraft has a bent boom and is still tumbling in Earth orbit (photo)
By Mike Wall published
The technology-demonstrating Advanced Composite Solar Sail System has a bent boom in Earth orbit, but NASA says it shouldn't be a big deal.
![Four Crew-8 astronauts smile and wave in white SpaceX spacesuits inside their spacecraft.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rJYPmveq5TdDMahsWqTnLC-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Crew-8 astronaut mission: Live updates
By Mike Wall published
Read the latest news about SpaceX's Crew-8 and Crew-9 missions to the International Space Station for NASA.
![illustration of a blue and white space capsule against a blue background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5tALantPa6nxKW7gWDARxN-320-80.jpg)
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.
![a space capsule splashes down in the ocean on a sunny clear day](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GoDq4aWFowK8eLrnkSHQEN-320-80.jpg)
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.
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