Tariq Malik

Tariq Malik

Editor-in-Chief

Tariq is the Editor-in-Chief of Space.com based out of our New York City office and joined the team in 2001, first as an intern and staff writer, and later as an editor. He covers human spaceflight, exploration and space science, as well as skywatching and entertainment. He became Space.com's Managing Editor in 2009 and Editor-in-Chief in 2019. In October 2022, Tariq received the Harry Kolcum Award for excellence in space reporting from the National Space Club Florida Committee.

Hailing from Stockton, California (where he attended the same high school as NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez), Tariq studied print journalism and astronomy at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, earning a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1999 along with a minor in astronomy. He then served as a staff reporter for The Los Angeles Times covering education and city beats in La Habra and Fullerton in Orange County for the Our Times sections. 

In 2000, Tariq became the city reporter for the Huntington Beach Independent, a weekly publication of the Los Angeles Times, covering local politics and events, crime, business and environmental issues. He left the Los Angeles Times in 2001 to study science journalism at New York University, where he earned a master's degree in 2002 from NYU's Science and Environmental Reporting Program (now the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program) under the direction of space reporter William Burrows.

Tariq first joined Space.com as an intern in September 2001 while also serving as a research assistant for nutrition writer Gary Taubes and writing freelance projects, where his work appeared in The Scientist and Laboratory Equipment Magazine. He became a full-time reporter covering spaceflight in 2004, with this first launch being NASA's STS-114 Return to Flight mission in July 2005.

Tariq is also an Eagle Scout (yes, he has the Space Exploration merit badge) and went to Space Camp four times as a kid and a fifth time as an adult. When not writing about space, you can find Tariq watching the latest Star Trek TV series, sci-fi movies and reading about hippos, his favorite animal. You can find Tariq at Space.com and as the co-host to the This Week In Space podcast with space historian Rod Pyle on the TWiT network. To see his latest project, you can follow Tariq on Twitter @tariqjmalik.

Latest articles by Tariq Malik

Rubin Observatory aces 1st image tests, gets ready to use world's largest digital camera

By Tariq Malik published

The Rubin Observatory will eventually hold the world's largest digital camera. It's therefore a good sign it has aced its first image test.

The Universe
a triple-core rocket blasts off under a sunny, partly cloudy blue sky. smoke expands below next to an obscured launch tower, near a long white hanger with SPACEX written on the side. To the left, a bird flies away.

Rocket launch today: Is there a rocket launch and what time?

By Tariq Malik last updated

Follow Space.com's rocket launch blog for the latest on when the next rocket launch will be and how to follow it live.

Launches & Spacecraft
The Deep Space Network command center takes center stage.

Los Angeles fires leave NASA's Deep Space Network mission control empty for 1st time in 60 years

By Tariq Malik published

Despite the evacuation of its Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, no space mission data has been lost, NASA says.

The Universe

What is the moon phase today? Lunar phases 2025

By Tariq Malik, Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference See what moon phase it is tonight and find out when you can see the rest of the moon phases for 2025.

Reference
A silver stainless-steel SpaceX Starship is assembled for launch on the pad for Flight 7.

What time is SpaceX's Starship Flight 7 launch test on Jan. 15?

By Tariq Malik last updated

SpaceX's seventh Starship test flight will now launch no earlier than Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 5 p.m. EST (2200 GMT).

Launches & Spacecraft
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.

SpaceX Starship Flight 7 launch: Live updates

By Tariq Malik last updated

Read the latest news about SpaceX's Starship megarocket test flights, launches, photos and more.

Launches & Spacecraft
Sky chart showing the planetary lineup visible after dark in January 2025. Jupiter is near Aldebaran, the star that makes up the eye of the bull in the constellation Taurus.

How to see a 'planet parade' of 4 bright planets in January's night sky (video)

By Tariq Malik published

Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn shine in a January planet alignment, NASA says.

Stargazing
A silver stainless-steel SpaceX Starship is assembled for launch on the pad for Flight 7.

SpaceX assembles the world's largest rocket for Starship Flight 7 test launch (photos)

By Tariq Malik published

SpaceX just stacked its Starship megarocket to prepare for the vehicle's seventh test flight, which is scheduled for Jan. 13.

Launches & Spacecraft

Endeavour: NASA's youngest space shuttle

By Tariq Malik last updated

Reference

Reference
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket stacked on the launch pad in November 2024.

What time is Blue Origin's 1st New Glenn rocket launch on Jan. 16?

By Tariq Malik last updated

Blue Origin will launch its first-ever New Glenn rocket on Jan. 16. Here's what time it will fly and where to look to watch it.

Launches & Spacecraft
A blue and white rocket on the launch pad with towers on each side.

Blue Origin delays 1st New Glenn rocket launch due to rough seas for landing

By Tariq Malik published

Bad weather for a rocket landing has pushed Blue Origin's first New Glenn launch to Jan. 12.

Launches & Spacecraft
The two docking satellites of India's Space Docking Experiment mission, or SpaDex.

Watch India attempt its 1st space docking between satellites live this week after delays

By Tariq Malik last updated

ISRO's SpaDeX satellites will try to dock in orbit on Jan. 8 around 9:30 p.m. EST (0230 Jan. 9 GMT/0800 IST).

Missions
An artist's depiction of a Mars sample-return mission.

NASA will announce update to Mars sample return plans today. Here's how to listen in

By Tariq Malik last updated

NASA's beleaguered Mars Sample Return program currently faces extreme costs of up to $11 billion and a timeline that could reach 2040.

Missions
An illustration of two Indian satellites nearing each other in orbit.

India delays 1st space docking of SpaDeX satellites, 'further validation' needed

By Tariq Malik published

India postponed its first attempt to dock two SpaDex satellites in Earth orbit from Jan. 6 until Jan. 9, to allow more time for tests.

Missions
a white and blue rocket standing on its launch pad at night.

Blue Origin is expected to launch its 1st New Glenn rocket next week, but when?

By Tariq Malik published

The first launch of New Glenn could occur between Jan. 6 and Jan. 12, according to the FAA.

Launches & Spacecraft
A castle ruin is in the foreground of the image with a subtle pink hued sky and a bright full moon.

Full moon calendar 2025: When to see the next full moon

By Tariq Malik last updated

Reference The full moon happens about once a month. Find out when.

Reference
An Indian Space Research Organisation PSLV rocket launches the two satellites of the Space Docking Experiment mission into orbit from Satish Dhawan Space Center in India on Dec. 30, 2024.

India launches 2 SpaDeX satellites on ambitious space docking test for future moon mission, space station

By Tariq Malik last updated

The SpaDeX mission will attempt India's first-ever autonomous docking in space.

Launches & Spacecraft
A solar flare erupts from the sun in a region circled in yellow

Sun unleashes massive X1.1 solar flare to close out 2024 (photo)

By Tariq Malik published

The huge solar flare may be the last big explosion from the sun this year.

The Sun
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching at night from a Florida pad

SpaceX launches 4 Astranis satellites on 2nd try after last-second abort

By Tariq Malik last updated

SpaceX successfully launched a miniature fleet of communications satellites into orbit in a vindication of sorts after a last-second abort delayed the flight.

Launches & Spacecraft
On its closest approach to the sun near the end of the mission, the Parker Solar Probe will become the fastest spacecraft ever.

Scientists await signal from NASA's Parker Solar Probe after historic close sun flyby. Will it phone home?

By Tariq Malik published

The spacecraft made the closest ever flyby if the sun on Christmas Eve, but it's been silent since Dec. 20.

The Sun
A piece of Chinese satellite space junk breaks apart in the night sky as a fireball in this video still image captured by Luke Matheson in Rison, Arkansas on Dec. 21, 2024.

See a dead Chinese satellite burn up as a brilliant fireball in the night sky (video)

By Tariq Malik published

The satellite was one of China's first-ever commercial Earth imaging satellites. RIP, SuperView 1-02.

Stargazing
NASA's Parker Solar Probe launched on August 12, 2018 on a mission to study the sun.

What time is the NASA Parker Solar Probe's closest sun flyby ever on Christmas Eve?

By Tariq Malik published

Set your Parker Solar Probe sun flyby clocks for Dec. 24 at 6:53 a.m. EST (1153 GMT), Space Fans.

The Sun
A Rocket Lab Electron booster frosting over during fueling for "Owl The Way Up" mission

Rocket Lab scrubs Strix radar satellite launch for Synspective over 'sensor data'

By Tariq Malik published

A new exact launch date for the Strix satellite launch by Rocket Lab has yet to be announced.

Launches & Spacecraft
A SpaceX Starship spacecraft on a test stand with the setting sun for Flight 7

SpaceX's Starship Flight 7 test flight gets FAA launch license. But when will it fly?

By Tariq Malik published

The FAA issued a launch license for SpaceX's upcoming Starship Flight 7, clearing the way for the company's next launch of the world's largest rocket from South Texas.

Launches & Spacecraft
NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission crew teaser with four astronauts in spacesuits.

NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission: Live updates

By Tariq Malik last updated

NASA's Artemis 2 mission is returning astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972. See live mission updates here.

Artemis
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