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
SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites from California (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched 22 Starlink satellites on Tuesday (Jan. 23) after a series of delays.
Virgin Galactic may launch 6th commercial spaceflight this week
By Mike Wall published
Virgin Galactic's sixth commercial spaceflight may be just around the corner. The launch window for the Galactic 06 mission opens on Friday (Jan. 26).
Blue Origin joins 2 stages of New Glenn rocket for the 1st time (photo)
By Mike Wall published
Blue Origin mated the two stages of its powerful New Glenn rocket for the first time recently, in preparation for the heavy lifter's debut later this year.
Not dead yet: Japan prepares for possible recovery of SLIM moon lander
By Mike Wall published
The SLIM 'Moon Sniper' probe went silent shortly after notching Japan's first-ever lunar landing on Jan. 19. But there may be life in the spacecraft yet.
NASA loses contact with Ingenuity Mars helicopter
By Mike Wall published
NASA lost contact with its Ingenuity Mars helicopter on Thursday (Jan. 18), toward the end of the little rotorcraft's 72nd Red Planet flight.
Japan's 'Moon Sniper' probe lands on moon, but suffers power problem
By Mike Wall last updated
Japan's SLIM lander touched down on the moon today (Jan. 19), notching a huge success for the nation. But SLIM's life may be quite short, as its solar panels aren't working.
Watch Japan attempt to ace its 1st-ever moon landing today with this free livestream (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Japan's robotic SLIM spacecraft will attempt to pull off the nation's first-ever moon landing on Friday morning (Jan. 19), and you can watch the action live.
Astrobotic loses contact with hobbled Peregrine moon lander
By Mike Wall published
Astrobotic lost contact with its Peregrine moon lander on Thursday afternoon (Jan. 18), suggesting that the troubled probe crashed to Earth over the South Pacific as expected.
Crippled Peregrine moon lander expected to crash to Earth today carrying human remains
By Mike Wall published
The private Peregrine moon lander's long journey is about to come to an end, back on its home planet.
US must beat China back to the moon, Congress tells NASA
By Mike Wall published
The newly announced delays to NASA's Artemis 2 and Artemis 3 moon missions are making some members of Congress nervous.
SpaceX poised to launch private Ax-3 astronaut mission to ISS today
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX remains on target to launch the private Ax-3 astronaut mission to the International Space Station on Wednesday evening (Jan. 17).
'If it had had a payload, it would have made it to orbit.' Elon Musk reveals cause of Starship explosion (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX's giant Starship Mars rocket blew up about eight minutes into its second-ever test flight last fall because the launch team vented its liquid oxygen, Elon Musk said.
SpaceX rolls rocket to pad for Ax-3 astronaut launch (photos)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX just rolled its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule out to the pad for the planned Wednesday (Jan. 17) launch of the private Ax-3 astronaut mission.
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites on company's 300th successful mission (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket sent 23 Starlink satellites to orbit Sunday night (Jan. 15) on the company's 300th successful mission to date.
SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites from California to kick off Sunday rocket doubleheader
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched early Sunday morning (Jan. 14), sending 22 Starlink satellites to orbit.
Hobbled Peregrine moon lander limps to lunar distance as Astrobotic fights to keep it alive
By Mike Wall published
Astrobotic's Peregrine lander has made it out to lunar distance, a major milestone for the crippled craft — but a moon landing still doesn't seem to be in the cards.
SpaceX Dragon capsule arrives at pad for Ax-3 astronaut launch (photos)
By Mike Wall published
The SpaceX Dragon capsule that will fly the private Ax-3 astronaut mission to the International Space Station has arrived at its launch pad ahead of its planned Jan. 17 liftoff.
Fuel leak on ailing private Peregrine moon lander is slowing, Astrobotic says
By Mike Wall published
The propellant leak that has crippled Astrobotic's Peregrine moon lander continues to slow, allowing the company to squeeze more science and engineering data out of the craft.
Japan's 1st launch of 2024 sends spy satellite to orbit (photos)
By Mike Wall published
Japan launched a reconnaissance satellite called IGS Optical 8 to orbit Thursday night (Jan. 11) in the nation's first mission of the new year.
China's record-breaking Gravity-1 rocket aces amazing debut launch from ship at sea (video)
By Mike Wall published
The Gravity-1 solid rocket, built by Chinese company Orienspace, aced its first-ever launch today (Jan. 11), sending three satellites to orbit.
SpaceX's new direct-to-cell Starlink satellites relay their 1st text messages
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX just broke in its newly launched direct-to-cell Starlink satellites, using them to send text messages for the first time.
Doomed Peregrine moon lander snaps another selfie as it zooms away from Earth (photo)
By Mike Wall published
Astrobotic's Peregrine moon lander snapped another in-space selfie as it cruised away from Earth, toward a date with lunar destiny that it can no longer keep.
Stuck valve may have doomed private Peregrine moon lander mission, Astrobotic says
By Mike Wall published
A stuck valve may be to blame for the problems plaguing Astrobotic's private Peregrine moon lander, according to the company.
Private Peregrine moon lander won't make lunar landing due to uncontrollable fuel leak
By Mike Wall published
A propellant leak will keep Astrobotic's Peregrine lander from touching down on the moon, but the mission team is working to extend the probe's life as long as possible.