Shares of space-technology startups extended their gains on Monday as traders positioned for the eleventh test flight of SpaceX’s Starship rocket system, scheduled for later in the day.
Elevate Your Investing Strategy:
- Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence.
Rocket Lab (RKLB), AST SpaceMobile (ASTS), Intuitive Machines (LUNR), Planet Labs (PL), and Redwire (RDW) rose an average of 6% in early trading, adding to a 125% rally so far this year. The S&P 500 gained 1.5% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.1% in comparison.
The move highlights growing optimism around SpaceX’s expanding dominance in space launches and its ability to drive a “halo effect” across the broader commercial space industry.
All five stocks enjoy strong backing from Wall Street, with nearly 80% of analysts holding Buy ratings, compared with 55% across the S&P 500 (SPX).
Starship Prepares for its Most Ambitious Test Yet
The launch window for SpaceX’s Starship opens at 6:15 p.m. Central Time, with a webcast expected about 30 minutes before liftoff.
Moreover, Starship is the largest rocket ever built, measuring roughly 400 feet tall when stacked. The design promises lower launch costs and higher payload capacity. These are efficiencies that SpaceX believes will eventually make crewed missions to Mars possible.
In this latest test, the company plans to reuse a lower-stage booster, while the upper stage will deploy test satellites and attempt to relight one of its engines in orbit before splashing down in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX has yet to attempt an upper-stage landing back on Earth, though such recoveries remain a core part of its long-term roadmap.
Earlier this year, SpaceX completed its tenth Starship test, successfully deploying Starlink satellites and reentering the atmosphere intact, which is a huge milestone that moved the company closer to its goal of a fully reusable heavy-lift rocket system.
SpaceX Continues to Lead the Industry
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket remains the workhorse of the space industry, completing more than 125 launches in 2025, which is over half of all orbital missions worldwide.
That consistency has helped the Elon Musk–led company maintain its estimated $400 billion valuation, making it one of the most valuable private firms globally.
For smaller space firms, SpaceX’s success has created access to capital and renewed investor enthusiasm. “SpaceX’s reliability and pace have lifted confidence across the ecosystem,” said one analyst tracking the sector.
The Trump administration’s push for NASA to rely more on commercial partners has also bolstered demand for private-sector space services, allowing startups to expand capabilities once reserved for government contractors.
Momentum Builds for Space Startups
Even though these smaller companies are not directly tied to Starship’s outcomes, investor sentiment often follows SpaceX’s achievements. Each successful test reinforces belief in the commercial viability of space ventures and reduces the perceived risk of investing in the sector.
Analysts note that Rocket Lab, AST SpaceMobile, and Planet Labs have already surged past their average price targets, leaving little room for near-term upside. Still, strong market momentum and government support could keep the group on an upward trajectory.
Now people are checking out Starbase, Texas, where SpaceX will attempt another key step toward reusable heavy-lift rockets, and in the process determine whether space stocks can maintain their extraordinary ascent.
Investors can compare the space stocks mentioned in this article on the TipRanks Stocks Comparison Tool. Click on the image below to find out more.
