Jackie Wattles

Writer, CNN Space & Science

Jackie Wattles is a writer for CNN Space & Science, covering all things related to outer space and humanity's renewed push to explore deep space. She specializes in coverage of commercial companies involved in the spaceflight industry as the world of rockets, satellites and space travel becomes increasingly privatized.
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Jackie Wattles
Jackie Wattles

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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO - APRIL 05: Bob Smith, CEO of Blue Origin speaks during a Q&A on the launch of Project Kuiper Satellite Constellation on April 05, 2022 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Photo by Tom Cooper/Getty Images for Amazon)
Tom Cooper/Getty Images/FILE
Longtime Amazon executive to take over Jeff Bezos’ rocket company
Sep 25, 2023
Blue Origin CEO Bob Smith will be replaced by Dave Limp, Amazon’s senior vice president of devices and services.
The Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft carrying the crew formed of NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara, Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub blasts off to the International Space Station (ISS) from the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
Maxim Shemetov/Reuters
NASA astronaut, 2 Russian cosmonauts launch to space station
Sep 15, 2023
A NASA astronaut on her inaugural spaceflight and two cosmonauts launched aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft toward the International Space Station Friday, marking the first time Russia has launched astronauts to the orbiting outpost in nearly a year.
AS17-152-23272 (7-19 Dec. 1972) --- The crescent Earth rises above the lunar horizon in this photograph taken from the Apollo 17 spacecraft in lunar orbit during National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) final lunar landing mission in the Apollo program. While astronauts Eugene A. Cernan, commander, and Harrison H. Schmitt, lunar module pilot, descended in the Lunar Module (LM) "Challenger" to explore the Taurus-Littrow region of the moon, astronaut Ronald E. Evans, command module pilot, remained with the Command and Service Modules (CSM) "America" in lunar orbit.
NASA
Abandoned Apollo 17 lunar lander module is causing tremors on the moon
Sep 15, 2023
The Apollo 17 lunar lander module left behind by US astronauts on the moon’s surface could be causing moonquakes, or small tremors, a new study revealed.
SpaceX posted images and video of Starship on the launch pad on Tuesday, September 5.
From SpaceX
FAA says it may grant a launch license for SpaceX’s Starship by the end of October
Sep 14, 2023
Federal regulators say they’re still working on the necessary reviews they must complete before allowing Starship to launch again.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson speaks during a NASA briefing on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) at NASA headquarters in Washington, DC, on September 14, 2023. NASA held its first public meeting on UAPs in May, calling for a more rigorous scientific approach to clarify the origin of hundreds of mysterious sightings. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
Independent group of experts and scientists releases 33-page report on UFOs
Sep 14, 2023
An independent report found NASA could be key in collecting data about UFOs and aid in the effort to explain the phenomena.
exoplanet K2-18 b illustration
NASA/ESA/CSA/Joseph Olmsted (STScI)
Planet in ‘habitable’ zone could have rare oceans and a possible sign of life, Webb data reveals
Sep 12, 2023
The James Webb Space Telescope investigated a giant planet, K2-18b, that could be an ocean world, according to NASA. The exoplanet lies 120 light-years away from Earth.
iss068e017867 (Oct. 1, 2022) --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio is pictured inside the cupola, the International Space Station's "window to the world," as the orbiting lab flew 263 miles above southeastern England.
NASA
Astronaut Frank Rubio sets US record for longest trip in space
Sep 12, 2023
Astronaut Frank Rubio has now been in low-Earth orbit for more than 355 days, breaking the record for the longest space mission by a US astronaut.
02 virgin galactic launch 0908 SCREENSHOT
From Virgin Galactic
These Virgin Galactic ticket holders have waited more than a decade. Now they’ve finally gone to space
Sep 08, 2023
Virgin Galactic has taken three of its earliest customers to space, some of whom have waited nearly 20 years for the experience.
SpaceX posted images and video of Starship on the launch pad on Tuesday, September 5.
From SpaceX
FAA closes investigation into SpaceX Starship rocket that exploded
Sep 08, 2023
The most powerful rocket ever built, SpaceX’s Starship, is ready for its second test flight. But the federal government still hasn’t given the green light.
TOPSHOT - The Artemis-1 rocket is rolled out from the Vehicle Assembly Building en route to Launch Pad 39B shortly after midnight at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on November 3, 2022. - NASA officials aim to launch the massive rocket on November 14 after two previous aborted launch attempts. Artemis-1 is scheduled to journey around the far side of the Moon after launching on a mission lasting four to six weeks before returning home faster and hotter than any vessel before. The mission objectives for this first flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft are to demonstrate its flight worthiness and the ability of Orion's heat shield in lunar reentry conditions. The launch and flight tests must be completed before returning astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972. (Photo by Gregg Newton / AFP) (Photo by GREGG NEWTON/AFP via Getty Images)
GREGG NEWTON/AFP/AFP via Getty Images
NASA’s mega moon rocket is ‘unaffordable,’ according to accountability report
Sep 08, 2023
Senior NASA officials say that the agency’s rocket at the heart of its Artemis program is “unaffordable,” a report from the US Government Accountability Office says.
Anaglyph is a simple visualization of the object or terrain in three dimensions from stereo or multi-view images. The Anaglyph presented here is created using NavCam Stereo Images, which consist of both a left and right image captured onboard the Pragyan Rover. In this 3-channel image, the left image is positioned in the red channel, while the right image is placed in the blue and green channels (creating cyan). The difference in perspective between these two images results in the stereo effect, which gives the visual impression of three dimensions. Red & Cyan glasses are recommended for viewing in 3D NavCam was developed by LEOS / ISRO. Data Processing is carried out by SAC / ISRO
LEOS/SAC/ISRO
Here’s what India’s historic lunar lander found on the moon — and what’s next
Sep 08, 2023
Though the Chandrayaan-3 lander is now officially asleep, mission controllers hope to reawaken the spacecraft September 22.
NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 Mission Splashes Down 2023.
NASA
4 astronauts splash down off coast of Florida, ending 6-month mission
Sep 04, 2023
Four astronauts have concluded their six-month mission to the International Space Station by splashing down off the coast of Florida.
This image provided by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) shows the Aditya-L1 spacecraft lifts off on board a satellite launch vehicle from the space center in Sriharikota, India, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. India launched its first space mission to study the sun on Saturday, less than two weeks after a successful uncrewed landing near the south polar region of the moon.
Indian Space Research Organisation/AP
India launches first mission following its historic moon landing
Sep 04, 2023
India has launched its first spacecraft dedicated to studying the sun and space weather, right on the heels of its historic moon landing.
Crew-6 undocks from the International Space Station on September 3.
NASA
4 astronauts head home from space station after hurricane passes through Florida
Sep 03, 2023
Four astronauts concluded their six-month stay aboard the International Space Station on Sunday and are heading for a splashdown off the coast of Florida days after Hurricane Idalia ravaged parts of the state.
st elmo's fire thumb 1
MacDill AFB
What you should know about the St. Elmo’s fire phenomenon — and how to stay safe
Aug 31, 2023
Pilots evacuating in preparation for Hurricane Idalia observed bright blue light outside their aircraft, an event called St. Elmo’s fire. Here’s what causes it.
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - AUGUST 26: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 mission lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on August 26, 2023 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 mission is the seventh crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency's Commercial Crew Program. (Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images)
Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images
SpaceX capsule docks at space station carrying 4 astronauts from 4 countries
Aug 27, 2023
The Crew-7 astronauts, riding aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, docked with the International Space Station on Sunday.

About

Jackie Wattles is a writer for CNN Space & Science, covering all things related to outer space and humanity’s renewed push to explore deep space. She specializes in coverage of commercial companies involved in the spaceflight industry as the world of rockets, satellites and space travel becomes increasingly privatized.

Previously, Wattles covered the space industry under the CNN Business team, which she first joined in 2015 as a breaking news and general assignment writer.

She was born and raised in the Austin, Texas area. She graduated with honors from the University of Connecticut, where she was a scholarship volleyball athlete and an editor for the campus newspaper, before attending the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.