
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
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Rocket issue pushes 1st astronaut launch of Boeing's Starliner capsule to May 10
By Mike Wall published
The historic first crewed launch of Boeing's new Starliner astronaut taxi has been pushed to no earlier than Friday (May 10), due to an issue with the vehicle's rocket ride.
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SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites from Florida (video)
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites today (May 6), the company's 46th orbital mission of the year already.
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How to watch Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut launch tonight live online
By Mike Wall last updated
Boeing's Starliner capsule is scheduled to launch astronauts for the first time ever on May 6. Here's how to watch that historic liftoff, as well as key events before and after it.
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Boeing's Starliner to join exclusive spacecraft club with 1st astronaut launch today
By Mike Wall published
Boeing's Starliner capsule will launch astronauts for the first time today (May 6), joining a very select group of spacecraft.
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Virgin Galactic to launch 7th commercial spaceflight on June 8
By Mike Wall published
Virgin Galactic is targeting June 8 for its seventh commercial spaceflight, a suborbital jaunt called, fittingly enough, Galactic 07.
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China launches Chang'e 6 sample-return mission to moon's far side (video)
By Mike Wall published
China continued its run of moon missions today (May 3), launching its bold Chang'e 6 sample-return effort to the lunar far side.
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SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites in 2nd half of spaceflight doubleheader (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites on Thursday (May 2), on the second half of a planned spaceflight doubleheader.
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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 2 satellites on record-tying 20th flight (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched two Maxar Earth-observation satellites today (May 2). It was the record-tying 20th mission for this rocket's first stage.
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NASA picks 9 companies to develop Mars 'commercial services' ideas
By Mike Wall published
NASA has selected nine companies to develop concepts that could agency science missions to Mars down the road.
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SpaceX's Crew-8 astronauts move Dragon at the ISS to make way for Boeing's Starliner
By Mike Wall last updated
The four astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-8 mission moved their Dragon capsule to a different port at the ISS on Thursday morning (May 2).
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Satellite operator SES acquiring Intelsat in $3.1 billion deal
By Mike Wall published
SES plans to buy fellow satellite operator Intelsat, in a deal that could help the combined company compete with SpaceX's huge Starlink broadband network.
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China's Shenzhou 17 astronauts return to Earth after 6 months in space (video)
By Mike Wall published
China's Shenzhou 17 astronauts touched down safely this morning (April 30), bringing their six-month mission to a successful close.
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SpaceX's 30th Dragon cargo mission departs the ISS, splashes down on Earth
By Mike Wall last updated
SpaceX's 30th robotic Dragon cargo ship returned home to Earth with a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean around 2:30 a.m. ET (0630 GMT) on April 30.
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SpaceX vet's startup Portal Space Systems comes out of stealth mode
By Mike Wall published
Portal has developed a new satellite bus called Supernova that the company says will allow unprecedented mobility in Earth orbit and beyond.
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SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites from Florida (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched another batch of the company's Starlink internet satellites on Sunday (April 28).
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SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket on record-tying 20th mission (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a European satellite-navigation mission on Saturday (April 27). It was a record-tying 20th liftoff for this particular booster.
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Wow! Private space-junk probe snaps historic photo of discarded rocket in orbit
By Mike Wall published
The private ADRAS-J probe snapped an epic, up-close image of its rendezvous target, a Japanese rocket stage that's been circling Earth since 2009.
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Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is 'go' for May 6 astronaut launch
By Mike Wall published
Boeing's Starliner capsule has been cleared for its first-ever crewed launch, a test flight scheduled to send two astronauts toward the International Space Station on May 6.
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Watch 2 cosmonauts conduct spacewalk outside the ISS today
By Mike Wall published
Two Russian cosmonauts are scheduled to spend about seven hours working outside the International Space Station today (April 25), and you can watch the action live.
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Watch China launch 3 astronauts to Tiangong space station today
By Mike Wall published
China plans to launch the three-astronaut Shenzhou 18 mission to its Tiangong space station today (April 25), and you can watch the action live.
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SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites, aces 300th rocket landing (photos, video)
By Mike Wall last updated
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket sent 23 more of the company's Starlink internet satellites skyward today (April 23).
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Rocket Lab launches new NASA solar sail tech to orbit (video, photos)
By Mike Wall last updated
Rocket Lab launched a South Korean Earth-observation satellite and new NASA solar-sailing tech this evening (April 23).
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NASA ends CloudSat Earth-observing mission after 18 years
By Mike Wall published
NASA's pioneering CloudSat weather and climate mission has come to an end after nearly 18 productive years in Earth orbit.