Amy Thompson

Space.com Contributor

Latest articles by Amy Thompson

NASA's first Space Launch System core booster ignites its four main engines at the Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi on Jan. 16, 2020. Expected to last 8 minutes, the test lasted just over 1 minute.

Critical engine test for NASA's Space Launch System megarocket shuts down earlier than planned

By Amy Thompson last updated

NASA fired up the core stage of its massive new megarocket Saturday (Jan. 16) in a critical test that appeared to shut down early.

Space Exploration
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA's Lucy asteroid-exploring spacecraft lifts off from Space Launch Complex-41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida before dawn on Oct. 16, 2021.

NASA launches robotic archaeologist Lucy on ambitious mission to Trojan asteroids

By Amy Thompson published

NASA's newest asteroid probe, named Lucy, successfully launched on 12-year mission to visit 8 asteroids early Saturday (Oct. 16).

Space Exploration
The Crew Dragon Resilience splashes down in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida, on Sept. 18, 2021.

SpaceX Inspiration4 astronauts return to Earth with historic splashdown off Florida coast

By Amy Thompson published

After three days in space, SpaceX's first all-civilian crew returned to Earth tonight, splashing down off the Florida coast to end a historic mission.

Space Exploration
The Inspiration4 mission blasts off on Sept. 15, 2021.

SpaceX launches four civilians into orbit on historic Inspiration4 flight

By Amy Thompson published

SpaceX made history tonight as it launched a crew of private citizens on a jaunt around Earth.

Space Exploration
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon CRS-22 cargo ship for NASA launches toward the International Space Station from Pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on June 3, 2021.

SpaceX launches new solar arrays to space station, nails rocket landing at sea

By Amy Thompson published

SpaceX launched its 17th rocket of the year today (June 3), sending a robotic Dragon cargo capsule toward the International Space Station before nailing a landing at sea.

Space Exploration
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 60 Starlink internet satellites launches on a record 10th flight from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on May 9, 2021.

SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites in record 10th liftoff (and landing) of reused rocket

By Amy Thompson published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 60 Starlink internet satellites into orbit early Sunday (May 9) and stuck a landing in a record 10th flight.

Space Exploration
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches on the Starlink 24 mission, on April 28, 2021, at 11:44 p.m. EDT (0344 April 29 GMT).

SpaceX rocket launches another 60 Starlink satellites, nails its 7th landing at sea

By Amy Thompson published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a new batch of 60 Starlink internet satellites into orbit on Wednesday evening (April 28) and nailed a landing at sea to top off a successful mission.

Space Exploration
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket launches the NROL-82 satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, on April 26, 2021.

Huge Delta IV Heavy rocket launches US spy satellite to orbit

By Amy Thompson published

A new U.S. spy satellite launched into space Monday afternoon (April 26) on the mightiest rocket built by the United Launch Alliance.

Space Exploration
The camera showing views from SN11 froze at 5 minutes, 49 seconds into flight on March 30, 2021.

SpaceX's Starship SN11 rocket prototype explodes on landing

By Amy Thompson published

We've got good news and bad news about the latest explosive SpaceX Starship test in Boca Chica, Texas.

Space Exploration
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the classified NROL-108 spy satellite into orbit from Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Dec. 19, 2020.

SpaceX launches classified US spy satellite, sticks rocket landing to cap record year

By Amy Thompson published

Space Exploration
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft lift off for the Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station.

SpaceX Crew Dragon launches 4 astronauts to space station in historic flight

By Amy Thompson published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule launched its first operational space taxi flight for NASA Sunday (Nov. 15).

Space Exploration
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 60 Starlink internet satellites into space from Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Oct. 6, 2020. It was the third flight for the Falcon 9 booster.

SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites and lands rocket at sea

By Amy Thompson published

SpaceX delivered its 13th batch of Starlink satellites to orbit Tuesday (Oct.6), following a two-week delay due to bad weather.

Space Exploration
SpaceX will launch 60 new Starlink internet satellites from Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Sept. 28, 2020.Shown here: A different Falcon launches the Starlink 11 mission on Sept. 3 from the same pad.

Watch SpaceX launch 60 new Starlink internet satellites into orbit today

By Amy Thompson published

SpaceX will launch 60 Starlink satellites into orbit today (Sept. 28) and you can watch it live here.

Space Exploration
A used SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying three Canadian Radarsat satellites stands ready to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The rocket's first stage will launch a new Starlink mission from Florida on July 8, 2020.

SpaceX to launch Starlink and BlackSky satellites into orbit today. Here's how to watch live.

By Amy Thompson published

SpaceX will launch its tenth set of Starlink internet satellites into orbit today (July 8) and you can watch it live online.

Space Exploration
A Rocket Lab Electron rocket lifts off with seven satellites aboard during a launch from Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand on July 4, 2020. The launch failed to reach orbit.

Rocket Lab Electron launch fails to reach orbit, 7 satellites lost

By Amy Thompson published

A Rocket Lab Electron booster carrying seven satellites failed to reach orbit during a Fourth of July launch Saturday.

Space Exploration
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket streaks into space in this dazzling view of the Starlink 8 launch that sent 58 Starlink satellites and three Planet SkySats into orbit before dawn from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on June 13, 2020.

SpaceX launches 58 Starlink satellites and 3 Planet SkySats, nails rocket landing

By Amy Thompson published

The Starlink constellation is growing fast.

Space Exploration
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches an X-37B space plane on a classified mission for the U.S. Space Force from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on May 17, 2020.

Space Force launches robotic X-37B space plane on new mystery mission

By Amy Thompson published

The U.S. Space Force's mysterious X-37B space plane successfully launched on its sixth mystery mission from Florida today (May 17).

Space Exploration
Erik Kuna captured an incredible view of SpaceX's CRS-20 cargo launch to the International Space Station. In this image the launch resembles a planetary nebula.

What's that in the sky? It's a SpaceX rocket, but it sure doesn't look like it

By Amy Thompson published

Space Exploration
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket making its fourth trip to space launches 60 new Starlink internet satellites into orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Nov. 11, 2019.

SpaceX Just Launched 60 Starlink Satellites (And Nailed a Milestone Rocket Landing)

By Amy Thompson published

SpaceX launched 60 Starlink satellites into orbit on its most flown Falcon 9 rocket yet, which made a historic fourth launch and landing on Monday (Nov. 11).

Space Exploration
Falcon 9 rocket launch

SpaceX to Attempt 1st West Coast Falcon 9 Rocket Landing on Sunday

By Amy Thompson published

Smoke billowed around a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Tuesday, Oct. 2, as it briefly fired its engines during a preflight test from SLC-4E at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Space Exploration
The United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket carrying NASA's Parker Solar Probe launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida on Aug. 12, 2018. It is the first mission ever to attempt to touch the sun.

NASA's Solar Probe Blasts Off to the Sun

By Amy Thompson published

NASA's spectacular Parker Solar Probe launch to the sun today (Aug. 12) has scientists over the moon. Here's why they're so thrilled.

The Sun