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 black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a blue sky.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7jsntmsZ8APVbcKVGJoPu6-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launching 20 Starlink satellites from Florida early on July 3
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX is set to launch yet another batch of its Starlink internet satellites from Florida in the wee hours of Wednesday morning (July 3).
![animation looking up at a large rocket coming in for a landing near its launch tower.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zKkfaRXKMMnH96X3Dbv3xV-320-80.jpg)
Watch SpaceX catch Starship Super Heavy booster with 'chopsticks' in this animation
By Mike Wall published
A new SpaceX animation shows the company catching a returning Starship Super Heavy booster with the "chopstick" arms of its huge launch tower.
![a white rocket stands upright on a launch pad](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yQkww77CLecW3to8MW6XcJ-320-80.jpg)
Not-so-static fire: Private Chinese rocket accidentally launches during test
By Mike Wall published
Space Pioneer's new Tianlong-3 rocket took to the skies accidentally on Sunday (June 30), then crashed back to Earth in a dramatic explosion.
![A black Firefly Aerospace rocket launches into space on Dec. 22, 2023](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aVUh7CJs8ATefXa3VipG7i-320-80.jpg)
Watch Firefly Aerospace launch 8 cubesats to orbit tonight after scrub
By Mike Wall published
Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket is scheduled to launch for the fifth time ever just after midnight on Wednesday (July 3), and you can watch the action live.
![a yellow rocket launches from a seaside pad](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yUfm9KShGYMnomWgUtqnoZ-320-80.jpg)
Japan launches advanced Earth-observing satellite on 3rd flight of H3 rocket (video)
By Mike Wall published
Japan's new H3 rocket launched for the third time ever tonight (June 30), sending the ALOS-4 Earth-observing satellite to orbit.
![three people sit in chairs, basking in white, orange and blue light coming from three different lamps](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uhHeo8HjGQiUMrBweVZASi-320-80.jpg)
'Stellar tanning salon' brings light of alien suns to Earth
By Mike Wall published
The first-ever stellar tanning salon just opened in Germany, giving a few lucky folks the chance to see what it would be like to bake on an alien beach.
![an astronaut in a bulky white spacesuit is brought into a cramped laboratory from an airlock](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3Svrh9WQ9XeXHQunKY7f99-320-80.jpg)
NASA delays next ISS spacewalk until end of July due to spacesuit leak issue
By Mike Wall published
NASA has delayed the next ISS spacewalk until at least late July while it investigates a spacesuit leak that cut a recent EVA short.
![A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the NROL-186 mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office on June 28, 2024.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3F8eFpbXUrJSR9bq83GwHU-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 2nd batch of next-gen US spy satellites (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched the second batch of satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office's "proliferated architecture" tonight (June 28).
![a large white rocket is transported horizontally toward its launch pad, with a blue sky in the background](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4L6B3iVmeVKiFBxtsyyCqA-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX rolls Falcon Heavy rocket out to pad for GOES-U weather satellite launch (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX rolled its Falcon Heavy rocket out to the pad on Monday (June 24) ahead of its 10th-ever launch, which is scheduled for Tuesday (June 25).
![a silvery-white spacecraft on the surface of the moon.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LEb2kLUkdpZay9QTj8srWS-320-80.png)
China returns samples from the moon's far side in historic 1st (video)
By Mike Wall published
China's Chang'e 6 mission has successfully returned samples from the moon's far side to Earth, notching another spaceflight first for the nation.
![a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a blue sky.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7jsntmsZ8APVbcKVGJoPu6-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches Starlink missions in spaceflight doubleheader (video, photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched two batches of its Starlink internet satellites on Sunday (June 23), sending them aloft from Florida and California.
![Boeing's white and blue Starliner spacecraft docked at the International Space Station in June 2024.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iLBhRkVaKaZYUmiqadzRMJ-320-80.jpg)
NASA, Boeing delay Starliner astronaut landing again, to study helium leaks and thruster issues
By Mike Wall published
Boeing's Starliner capsule will remain docked with the ISS until at least July 2, in part to give mission team members more time to assess helium leaks and thruster issues.
![illustration of two asteroids in space, with earth in the background](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rpp44V3YUwUc62EbEvUECL-320-80.jpg)
When a dangerous asteroid threatens Earth, humanity will have to work together, NASA says
By Mike Wall published
Earth's oft-squabbling nations will need to set aside their differences, at least for a while, when a big, dangerous asteroid puts our planet in its crosshairs.
![a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a blue sky.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BpUVKjWGkCqpfms3PaTxcP-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX rocket launches European TV satellite, makes 250th droneship landing (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched the SES Astra 1P telecom satellite on June 20, and then achieved its 250th landing on a droneship.
![illustration of two asteroids in space, with earth in the background](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rpp44V3YUwUc62EbEvUECL-320-80.jpg)
NASA discussing asteroid-threat exercise today: Watch it live
By Mike Wall published
NASA will discuss the results of a recent asteroid-threat exercise today (June 20), and you can watch it live.
![a black rocket stands on a launch pad beneath cloudy skies](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UTi6nwxwHveTFQKvopJeBX-320-80.jpg)
Watch Rocket Lab launch its Electron vehicle for the 50th time today
By Mike Wall published
Rocket Lab plans to launch its Electron vehicle for the 50th time today (June 20), and you can watch the milestone moment live.
![a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a night sky.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/n6SJaDvzAyPLQy9jTdYjgB-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX launches 20 Starlink satellites from California
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched 20 of its Starlink satellites from California on Tuesday night (June 18), ending a 10-day spaceflight drought for the company.
![a large rocket launches into a cloudy orange-yellow sky](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Qbqe8NYqEogq6eNTELPNjf-320-80.jpg)
Join the FAA's virtual public meeting about SpaceX's Starship this evening
By Mike Wall published
The FAA is holding a virtual public meeting this evening (June 17) about the potential environmental impact of SpaceX's Starship operations in Florida, and you can participate.
![A rocket launch carves an orange arc into a dark night sky in this long-exposure photo.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f5R4B9aCk6gqFa3mK26oZF-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX to launch 22 new Starlink satellites from Florida soon after weather delays
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX is scheduled to launch 22 more of its Starlink broadband satellites to orbit from Florida's Space Coast on Friday (June 14).
![closeup view of a white space capsule docked to the international space station](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cWePnVyEDzT6r7Rcu95BtQ-320-80.jpg)
Boeing's Starliner astronaut taxi spotted at ISS (satellite photo)
By Mike Wall published
Maxar's WorldView-3 satellite captured a striking image of Boeing's Starliner capsule docked to the ISS on June 7, a day after the vehicle arrived at the orbiting complex.
![a man in a black t-shirt smiles while a crowd around him applauds](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mZhFVFdKCQ3w5AoTCtsyyG-320-80.jpg)
Former SpaceX employees sue company, Elon Musk for retaliation, sexual harassment
By Mike Wall published
Eight former SpaceX employees are suing the company and its founder and CEO, Elon Musk, alleging sexual harassment and wrongful termination.
![a smiling older man in a suit stands in front of a model of a large spacecraft.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AyVBXUPgoU4CgqMQokWrga-320-80.jpg)
Ed Stone, who led NASA's iconic Voyager project for 50 years, dies at 88
By Mike Wall published
Ed Stone, who for 50 years served as the project scientist for NASA's iconic Voyager mission, died June 9 at the age of 88.
![A white Boeing Starliner spacecraft floats above a blue Earth against the black of space on June 6, 2024.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XfwaC6wxbw969VVET7MYDb-320-80.jpg)
NASA weighs potential impacts of helium leaks and more on Boeing's Starliner astronaut test flight
By Mike Wall published
Starliner's two astronauts continue to put the capsule through a series of checks, while ground teams analyze helium leaks and other issues.