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Viasat selects Rocket Lab to build an anti-jam Space Force satellite bus. VSAT trades higher at $83.33 amid strong technical momentum.
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Rocket Lab's Neutron rocket, first announced in 2020, may not launch until 2027, causing investor concern. However, the delay's financial impact is minimal—only $50 million in lost revenue in the first year. The company still expects to achieve profitability in 2027 through its planned Iridium merger and commercial launch operations.
SpaceX faces a potential technical headwind on Sept. 9 when 319 million shares become eligible for sale from early stakeholders. Rather than SpaceX, the article highlights three alternative space infrastructure companies with stronger growth potential: Rocket Lab (developing reusable medium-lift rockets), AST SpaceMobile (building satellite-based cellular networks), and Redwire (providing spacecraft power and manufacturing systems).
Rocket Lab, a developer of reusable orbital rockets and satellite components, has surged from $11.58 at its 2021 SPAC debut to around $64. The company generates 70%+ revenue from space systems and is acquiring Iridium for $8 billion. Analysts project 43% revenue CAGR through 2028, with positive EBITDA expected by 2027. Despite a 27x forward sales valuation, the stock offers a smaller alternative to SpaceX in the growing space sector.
Intuitive Machines (LUNR) has declined 46.4% over three months despite achieving a record $1.8B backlog and booking $920M in Q2 2026 awards. While the company shows strong operational expansion with 70+ IM-300 spacecraft under contract and improving satellite production, it faces headwinds from fixed-price lunar mission risks, negative adjusted EBITDA, and a premium valuation multiple relative to peers. The stock carries a Hold rating with weak value, growth, and momentum scores, suggesting investors should await execution improvements rather than treating the decline as a buying opportunity.
The global space economy reached $686 billion in 2025 with commercial activity driving growth, and is projected to surpass $1 trillion by 2032. While individual space stocks carry significant risks including capital intensity, launch delays, and regulatory complexities, space ETFs offer diversified exposure across the space value chain. Several ETFs are highlighted as investment options for capturing long-term growth in this emerging sector.
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) stock surged over 9% following SEC filings revealing director insider purchases and a new analyst Buy rating.