Humans are going back to the Moon — but this time the model has changed completely. Instead of building every spacecraft itself, NASA now “buys a delivery service” from private companies, paying a fixed price and only when the cargo arrives. This is the start of a new economy: the business of shipping things to the Moon. It's still in its very first days, failing more often than it succeeds, and almost all the money still comes from the government — but the prize at the end has a name: “lunar ice.”
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Firefly Wins $100 Million NASA Contract, Adds Lunar and Launch Deals
Firefly Aerospace Inc. was awarded a Spacecraft Processing Operations Contract from NASA on August 17, a multiple-award contract that also includes All Points Logistics, Blue Origin, and L3Harris Technologies and carries a total ceiling value of $100 million with an ordering period extending through February 2033. The contract positions Firefly to compete for task orders providing payload processing facilities and services for NASA missions launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base. "Reliable access to space depends on more than rockets — it depends on the infrastructure that gets payloads ready to fly," said Adam Oakes, Vice President of Launch at Firefly Aerospace. Two days later, on August 19, Firefly announced it is onboarding Zeno Power to its upcoming Blue Ghost lunar mission to demonstrate radioisotope technologies designed to survive the lunar night. On September 9, Firefly signed a multi-launch agreement with SSC Space for two Alpha rocket launches from Sweden's Esrange Space Center.
Rapidus Eyes Building a Chip Plant on the Moon by 2040
Atsuyoshi Koike, chairman and CEO of Japanese chipmaker Rapidus Corp, said on Thursday, September 10, that he is seriously considering building a semiconductor manufacturing plant on the Moon by 2040, citing the Moon's water resources as necessary for chip production. Speaking at a forum in Washington hosted by the Hudson Institute, Koike confirmed this is no joke and that he is thinking of a timeframe around 2040, and he showed attendees an AI-generated video depicting a simulated manufacturing plant on the lunar surface. Meanwhile, Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM Corp, who also attended the event, said IBM is providing technical support to Rapidus as the Japanese company prepares to mass-produce 2-nanometer semiconductors at its plant in Hokkaido, and the two companies are also jointly researching and developing even more advanced 1-nanometer semiconductors.
IBM and NASA Release Open-Source AI Model for Lunar Research
IBM and NASA have made a new artificial-intelligence model publicly available to help researchers analyze lunar data. The NASA-IBM Lunar Foundation Model was trained on a broad dataset assembled by researchers from both organizations and is designed to extract useful findings from complex scientific records gathered by different instruments. The open-source release is intended to support research tied to future lunar missions and scientific exploration, and could contribute to longer-term efforts involving continued human activity on the Moon. IBM shares fell about 1.5% Thursday as the model moved into open-source use.
Canaccord Reiterates Buy on Intuitive Machines with $39 Target
Canaccord Genuity analyst Austin Moeller reiterated a Buy rating on Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ:LUNR) on August 18, cutting the price target from $41 to $39, implying nearly 165% upside from the September 1 close. The reiteration follows the company's second-quarter results on August 13, where management reaffirmed full-year 2026 guidance of $900 million to $1 billion in revenue and positive adjusted EBITDA. Intuitive Machines posted record quarterly revenue of $206.17 million, up 310% year-over-year, and ended the quarter with a $1.8 billion order backlog, a substantial jump from $213.1 million at the end of December, with $612.8 million of that backlog tied to the Lanteris acquisition. The company also received authorization to proceed on a $600 million multi-satellite communications infrastructure program, leveraging its IM 1300 platform. However, risks include backlog conversion timing, customer concentration in national security programs, and execution risks on large-scale satellite projects.
Stifel Upgrades Intuitive Machines Despite Big Earnings Miss
Stifel upgraded Intuitive Machines to Buy from Hold even after the company reported a much wider-than-expected second-quarter loss. The space infrastructure firm posted an adjusted loss of $0.29 per share, far worse than the $0.09 loss analysts had forecast, while revenue of $206.2 million missed the $224 million consensus. Stifel cut its price target to $26 from $32 but pointed to a $707 million jump in backlog to $1.76 billion, including more than $600 million from three commercial geostationary satellite agreements and a July deal for 18 spacecraft for the Golden Dome missile-defense network. Management reiterated full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $900 million to $1 billion and its expectation for positive adjusted EBITDA, attributing the miss largely to a negative estimate-at-completion adjustment on the IM-4 lunar lander program.
Intuitive Machines Reports Record $1.8 Billion Backlog
Intuitive Machines reported second-quarter revenue of $206 million, more than four times what it brought in a year earlier, and closed the quarter with a record $1.8 billion in backlog. The company reaffirmed its full-year guidance of $900 million to $1 billion in revenue and said it still expects positive adjusted EBITDA for 2026. Intuitive Machines logged $1.7 billion in bookings so far this year, including $1.2 billion in the second quarter alone, the highest quarterly total in company history. Operating loss widened to $47 million, driven by higher SG&A, amortization, and a $14.7 million cost adjustment tied to the IM-4 lunar lander program. The company raised $235 million in net proceeds this quarter through its at-the-market stock program, bringing total gross proceeds raised to date to $291 million at an average price of $26.81 a share.
Trump signs order to boost U.S. space transportation capabilities
U.S. President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on Thursday, August 20, aimed at promoting U.S. space transportation capabilities, with the goal of pushing for more than 1,000 launches and reentries per year from U.S. bases by 2030. The White House said the memorandum is intended to create reliable, affordable, and modern access to space transportation services. Xinhua News Agency reported that the memorandum directs federal agencies to promote joint development of space transportation infrastructure with private partners, facilitate business use of federal facilities for launches and reentries, and speed up site licensing processes as well as environmental impact assessments. It also calls for fair and transparent charges for shared services, commodities, and infrastructure. The memorandum further directs the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Department of the Interior to coordinate with the Department of Defense and NASA to identify areas for additional space transportation infrastructure development, including new launch and reentry sites. It also calls for allocating airspace for critical launch corridors and integrating space transportation activities into efforts to modernize the air traffic control system. In addition, the memorandum directs the NASA administrator to facilitate commercial transportation to and from the Moon, as well as commercial robotic missions to Mars, while studying commercial options for sending humans to Mars and returning them to Earth.
L3Harris and Intuitive Machines Report Divergent Q2 2026 Results
L3Harris Technologies and Intuitive Machines reported sharply different second-quarter 2026 financial results, underscoring the contrast between a mature defense prime and a fast-growing commercial space firm. L3Harris posted revenue of $5.9 billion, up 8% year over year, with net income of $600 million and diluted EPS of $3.13, while raising its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to $23.2 billion to $23.7 billion. Intuitive Machines saw revenue surge more than fourfold to $206 million, but recorded an operating loss of $47 million and an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $14 million, even as its backlog reached a record $1.8 billion. The two companies are partners on the Space Development Agency's Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 mission, where Intuitive Machines will build 18 satellite platforms for L3Harris payloads. Hedge fund ownership rose for both stocks in the first quarter of 2026, with L3Harris held by 59 funds and Intuitive Machines by 30.
Space board accelerates laws and master plan to drive Thailand's space economy
The National Space Policy Committee is accelerating the push for laws and a master plan to lay the foundation for driving Thailand's space economy over the long term. At its first meeting of 2026 on August 17, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn chaired the session, joined by representatives from key ministries and agencies. The meeting considered ways to upgrade Thailand's space affairs in the economic, security, and technology development dimensions. It focused on drafting a policy for considering permission for foreign satellites to provide services domestically, known as Landing Rights, alongside consumer protection, fair competition, and national security. It also laid out guidelines for managing satellite communication channel slots that the state receives from licensees authorized to use satellite orbital rights, to be used for public services and state benefit, supporting the growth of the digital economy and reducing inequality in access to services and opportunities for the public. In space affairs for security, priority will be given to space traffic monitoring and management to accommodate and prevent threats in the digital, cyber, and space domains. In space technology and applications, the committee will move forward with promoting research and development of Thailand's own Earth observation satellite systems, including studying the feasibility of establishing Thailand's first spaceport, or Thailand Spaceport, to reduce long-term dependence on foreign technology. At the same time, it will accelerate the use of Earth observation satellite data to support key national missions, including precision agriculture, disaster management, and assessment of PM2.5 air pollution situations, along with developing personnel to support the future space industry. The committee is also expediting the drafting of the Space Affairs Act and reviewing the draft National Space Master Plan 2023-2037 to lay the legal foundation and set long-term strategies, supporting the creation of economic value and revenue from the space industry while enhancing the country's competitiveness. The meeting also endorsed the Artemis project, a lunar exploration program of the United States operated by NASA, as an important space project for Thailand, which needs to be accelerated in line with the plans and timelines of the United States and international partners. It also acknowledged progress in Thailand's space affairs, covering policy and regulations, satellite technology, component manufacturing, space missions for security, space technology applications, personnel development, and cooperation with international organizations, as well as preparations to join the 1972 Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects, the feasibility study for establishing Thailand Spaceport, and the development of space traffic monitoring and management guidelines in line with international standards.
Goldman says space is becoming an institutional asset class
Goldman Sachs says space is becoming an institutional asset class as falling launch costs and rising private investment reshape the orbital economy. The firm forecasts the global space-based economy will reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, with more than $55 billion invested in 2025 and a record $36 billion in the first quarter of 2026. Since the start of 2025, aerospace companies have raised $89 billion through IPOs, including Firefly's roughly $999 million listing, York Space Systems' roughly $629 million raise, HawkEye 360's roughly $478 million raise, and SpaceX's record $86 billion IPO. Goldman says public-market funding is critical because the next stage of space industrialization will require large upfront investment in launch capacity, satellite factories, lunar infrastructure, and data platforms.
The Tema Space Innovators ETF, known by the ticker NASA, has lost its defining advantage after SpaceX went public in June 2026, with the fund down roughly 29% between June 1 and August 14. SpaceX now represents only about 7% of the fund's net assets, while Rocket Lab is the largest holding at 11%, according to the fund's most recent NPORT filing. The ETF launched in late March 2026 with a special-purpose vehicle offering direct SpaceX exposure, but that scarcity premium disappeared when SpaceX began trading at an IPO price of $135 per share. Since June 1, Intuitive Machines has fallen 50%, Firefly has dropped 40%, and Viasat has gained 14%, highlighting the extreme dispersion among space stocks. Investors with pure SpaceX conviction should buy the stock directly, while the fund's 0.75% expense ratio is only justified for those seeking broad space-theme exposure.
Intuitive Machines Stock Soars on Reaffirmed Guidance and Lunar Satellite Plans
Intuitive Machines stock jumped 10.5% in Friday trading after the company reaffirmed its full-year sales forecast and detailed plans for a lunar satellite constellation. The company posted a second-quarter net loss of $0.29 per share on revenue of roughly $206.2 million, missing Wall Street estimates that called for a $0.10 per-share loss and about $15 million more in sales. Despite the miss, Intuitive Machines still expects full-year revenue between $900 million and $1 billion and positive adjusted EBITDA. Its backlog surged to $1.8 billion at the end of Q2 from roughly $300 million at the end of 2025, and the company expects its full lunar satellite constellation network to be deployed in 2028.
SpaceX Rises 5% on Starlink Launch and Morgan Stanley AI Bull Case
SpaceX stock climbed 5% to $140 midday Wednesday, rebounding from a 5% drop Tuesday, while Intuitive Machines gained 3% to $17 ahead of its Thursday earnings report. Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jones set a $300 price target on SpaceX, arguing investors underestimate its AI business, including the pending $60 billion acquisition of coding platform Cursor and neocloud data-center leasing deals with Anthropic and Alphabet's Google. Jones sees Cursor's annual revenue run rate climbing from $4 billion in June toward $33 billion by 2030. SpaceX also launched 24 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Tuesday night, extending a constellation that ended Q2 2026 with 12 million subscribers. Intuitive Machines reports Q2 2026 results before market open Thursday, with consensus estimates of a $0.07 per share loss on $219 million in revenue, and its earnings days historically average a 7% same-day gain followed by a 7% one-week fade.
Voyager Technologies raises 2026 revenue guidance to $275–$305 million after record quarter and Astrobotic acquisition
Voyager Technologies raised its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to a range of $275 million to $305 million, reflecting the integration of the Astrobotic acquisition and strong core performance. The company reported record second-quarter revenue of $52.7 million, up 51% sequentially, and record bookings of $113 million, driving backlog to a record $335.5 million. Golden Dome-related awards totaled $84.3 million across five technology platforms, while the Astrobotic acquisition, completed in July, is expected to contribute $40 million to $50 million in the second half of 2026. Voyager ended the quarter with $429 million of cash and cash equivalents, approximately $212 million of available borrowing capacity, and total liquidity of approximately $641 million. The company also reported a net loss of $46.5 million and an adjusted EBITDA loss of $37.5 million, reflecting increased innovation spending and scaling of the Starlab segment.
Voyager Technologies Reports Record Q2 Revenue and Bookings, Raises 2026 Guidance
Voyager Technologies reported record second-quarter results, with revenue rising 15% year over year to $53 million and bookings reaching $113 million, driving a 2.1 times book-to-bill ratio and a record backlog of $336 million. The company raised its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to a range of $275 million to $305 million, including an expected $40 million to $50 million contribution from its recently acquired lunar-services company Astrobotic. CEO Dylan Taylor said $84 million of the quarter's bookings were tied to the Golden Dome missile-defense initiative, while Astrobotic adds nearly $300 million in NASA awards that are not yet reflected in the backlog. CFO Phil De Sousa noted that adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $38 million, modestly ahead of internal expectations, as the company continues to invest heavily in R&D and production capacity. Voyager also disclosed that its Starlab commercial space station venture has secured more than $500 million in signed commercial reservations, approaching $600 million.
SpaceX surges 11% after Argus upgrade, lifting space stocks
SpaceX shares jumped 11% to $127.49 after Argus upgraded the stock to Buy with a $160 price target, citing rapid growth in AI computing capacity. The upgrade reversed earlier selling pressure tied to the company's post-IPO share-lockup expiration and heavy capital spending disclosed in its first quarterly report. Peers rallied in sympathy, with Intuitive Machines up 9% to $16.25, Rocket Lab up 8% to $81.56 after completing its 92nd Electron mission, AST SpaceMobile up 5% to $70.68, Virgin Galactic up 6% to $3.12, and Planet Labs up 5% to $23.86. A weaker-than-expected July jobs report showing a loss of 23,000 jobs versus an expected gain of 80,000 reduced expectations for a September Federal Reserve rate hike, boosting appetite for capital-intensive growth names. Despite the rally, SpaceX remains down 15% over the past month, and the newly unlocked float could still cap upside.
Rocket Lab and Intuitive Machines Compared as Better Space Stock
Rocket Lab and Intuitive Machines are building businesses around two very different space economies, with one offering diversified exposure to launches, spacecraft, and defense while the other could capture enormous value from lunar infrastructure. Their financial positions reveal which company may have more ways to succeed. Stock prices used were the market prices of July 27, 2026, and the video was published on July 31, 2026.
NASA Awards Nearly $600 Million in New Lunar Landing Contracts
NASA has awarded nearly $600 million in new lunar landing contracts to three companies, roughly doubling the initial funding for its moon base project. Astrobotic, now part of Voyager Technologies, received the largest award at $297.9 million for two payload deliveries to the moon. Intuitive Machines secured $148.3 million for a single payload delivery, while Firefly Aerospace won $144.2 million for another single delivery. NASA said in June that it intends to eventually award $20 billion in contracts, but rolled out the project with just a few hundred million dollars' worth of contract announcements to start. All three contracts fall under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, and the landers will carry identical scientific payloads including cameras, a radiation spectrometer, and a laser retroreflector array.
Intuitive Machines beats AST SpaceMobile as the better space infrastructure buy for 2026
Intuitive Machines is the more compelling space infrastructure stock for 2026 compared to AST SpaceMobile, based on a more reasonable forward price-to-sales ratio of 4.7 times. AST SpaceMobile trades at a price-to-sales ratio of 188 times and lacks a forward price-to-earnings ratio because it is not expected to be profitable in fiscal 2027. Intuitive Machines reported fiscal 2025 revenue of approximately 210.1 million dollars and a net loss of nearly 83.3 million dollars, while AST SpaceMobile posted revenue of about 70.9 million dollars and a net loss of nearly 342 million dollars. Analysts project Intuitive Machines' fiscal 2026 revenue will more than quadruple to 952 million dollars with a narrower net loss of 66 million dollars, and the company began the year with its strongest quarter ever at 187 million dollars in revenue and an order backlog of 1.1 billion dollars. AST SpaceMobile expects to have 45 satellites by year-end to fully service the U.S., with Wall Street forecasting 149 million dollars in fiscal 2026 sales and a first modest profit the following year.
ispace to Use H3 Rocket for 2028 Lunar Lander Launch
Space startup ispace announced on the 29th that it will use Japan's mainstay H3 rocket for the launch of its lunar lander scheduled for 2028. It has signed a launch transport service contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Frequency Electronics wins $8 million follow-on lunar space mission contract
Frequency Electronics has been awarded a follow-on production contract valued at approximately $8 million to supply compact, high-precision atomic clocks for lunar space missions. The contract covers production of atomic clocks designed to support position, navigation and timing capabilities for lunar exploration.
SpaceX Stock Trades 49% Below Post-IPO High as Musk Warns of Long-Term Focus
SpaceX stock is trading around $114 per share, roughly 22% below its $135 IPO price and 49% below its post-IPO high. Elon Musk has openly warned that the company may miss quarterly earnings to fund long-term projects like Moon and Mars bases, prioritizing decade-long returns over short-term profits. SpaceX broke with Wall Street tradition by reserving a significant portion of its IPO allocation for retail investors, not just institutions and hedge funds. President and COO Gwynne Shotwell said at the time of the IPO that the company measures its operating horizon in decades, not months. Musk acknowledged that public companies face relentless pressure for strong quarterly results, but stated SpaceX could willingly sacrifice near-term profits for infrastructure on the Moon or Mars.
Blue Origin Raises $10 Billion at $130 Billion Valuation in First Outside Funding Round
Blue Origin is raising $10 billion in new cash at a $130 billion valuation, marking the first time the 26-year-old space company has accepted outside investment. Jeff Bezos, who previously held 100% ownership, is contributing $2 billion of the total, while external investors including hedge fund Coatue Management are providing the remaining $8 billion. Coatue alone is investing $4 billion, with other major investors splitting the rest. The funding will support multiple capital-intensive projects, including rebuilding a launch pad, replacing a destroyed New Glenn rocket, developing a satellite constellation, and building lunar landers for NASA.
Intuitive Machines Favored Over Archer Aviation for 2026 Investment
Intuitive Machines is the better buy for 2026 compared to Archer Aviation, according to a Motley Fool analysis. Archer Aviation reported fiscal 2025 revenue of just $300,000 and a net loss of approximately $618.2 million, while Intuitive Machines posted revenue of about $210.1 million and a narrower net loss of nearly $83.3 million. Intuitive Machines started fiscal 2026 with record quarterly revenue of $187 million and an order backlog of $1.1 billion, with analysts projecting full-year revenue of $952 million and a first profit in 2028. Archer Aviation, still pursuing FAA certification for its Midnight aircraft, is not expected to turn a profit until 2030, with Wall Street forecasting $2.3 billion in revenue that year. The analysis highlights Intuitive Machines' stronger near-term revenue trajectory and backlog as key reasons for the preference.
Lunar Outpost Collaborates with NVIDIA to Deploy Edge AI Across Upcoming Moon Missions
Lunar Outpost announced a collaboration with NVIDIA to deploy edge AI across its upcoming lunar missions. The company will use the NVIDIA Jetson platform and CUDA-X libraries for onboard data processing, lunar mapping, advanced autonomy, and communications. The first mission to use the technology is Lunar Voyage 2, planned to launch later this year to explore Reiner Gamma, where NVIDIA Jetson modules will control the rover's LiDAR system and handle sensor data post-processing and file compression. Future missions, including Lunar Voyage 3 and Lunar Voyage 5, will leverage the space-qualified NVIDIA Space-1 Vera Rubin Module for real-time terrain mapping, autonomous path planning, and video streaming from the Moon to Earth. Lunar Outpost is also a member of the NVIDIA Inception Program and has ten fully contracted lunar and cislunar missions launching before 2030.
PM Opens Thailand² to Elevate Human Capital and Drive Four New Economic Engines
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul presided over the opening of THAILAND², an event themed “Empowering Thailand, Elevating Human Capital,” a collaboration among five ministries: the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation; the Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Labour; the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives; and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. He stated that human capital development is a critical agenda amid an aging society and rapidly changing technology, emphasizing that the government prioritizes the development of Thai people of all ages, from early childhood to the elderly, through policies to reduce family burdens, eliminate educational redundancies, and the Zero Dropout PLUS project to bring children back into the system. Additionally, the government is supporting TCAS69 examination fees, allowing youth to take TGAT and TPAT tests for free, and aims to produce a high-skilled workforce for target industries such as semiconductors. During the event, the 90-day achievements of the five ministries were presented, including the use of artificial intelligence to analyze research redundancies, which helped reduce the budget by over 72 million baht, and the development of the Thai-made space device CE-7 MATCH for lunar exploration missions. The government also laid out four new economic engines: the semiconductor strategy, the health economy strategy, the space economy strategy, and the artificial intelligence strategy, to be driven through the Human Capital Development Subcommittee under the Joint Public-Private Committee for Economic Problem Solving.
UBS projects the space economy’s total addressable market at $1.3 trillion by 2040
UBS projects the global space economy’s total addressable market could reach $1.3 trillion by 2040, representing annualised growth of about 7%. The estimate was reduced by one-third from a potential $2 trillion scenario to account for delays and technical hurdles. Satellite Industry Association data valued the narrower global space economy at $429 billion in 2025, up 3% from the previous year, with commercial satellites generating $303 billion and representing 71% of the total. Ground equipment was the largest segment at $165.2 billion, followed by satellite services at $105 billion, while consumer applications including satellite television, radio, and broadband accounted for $80.2 billion of service revenue. Lower launch costs, which could fall below $250 per kilogram by 2040 from roughly $1,500 to $2,000 currently, are expected to support expansion in satellite communications, Earth observation, space logistics, and emerging applications. National security spending is another major growth driver, with the proposed US Space Force budget rising 30% to $49.6 billion for fiscal 2027 and Germany committing €35 billion to space assets by 2030. Longer-term opportunities include private orbital stations, space-based manufacturing, lunar infrastructure, and orbital data centres, though many remain technically unproven and require substantial external funding. Venture investment reached $11.6 billion across 430 space-technology deals during 2026 through early July, already matching the total recorded in 2025.
Goldman Sachs says space economy’s path to $1 trillion is a matter of when, not if
Goldman Sachs says the space economy’s growth to $1 trillion is a matter of when, not if, with the sector currently at about $625 billion and consensus timing pointing to the mid-2030s or 2040s. Commercial companies now drive roughly 80% of that activity, a complete reversal from 80% government control a generation ago, creating what the firm calls a flywheel effect of investment and development. Falling launch costs are the main engine, widening the addressable market for satellite operators, imaging firms, and eventually lunar logistics. Among pure-play names, AST SpaceMobile reported first-quarter 2026 revenue of $14.7 million, up 1,952% year over year, and reaffirmed full-year guidance of $150 million to $200 million, while Firefly Aerospace posted first-quarter revenue of $80.88 million, up 44.8%, and maintained its 2026 outlook of $420 million to $450 million. The Procure Space ETF, a basket of 47 space-related stocks, has returned 70.72% over five years but is down 13.43% in the past month amid a sell-off in high-beta names.
Voyager Technologies completes Astrobotic acquisition and secures $298 million NASA contract
Voyager Technologies has completed its acquisition of Astrobotic Technology, renaming it Voyager Lunar Systems, and simultaneously announced that the newly acquired unit has been awarded task orders worth roughly $298 million from NASA. The contract covers two lunar lander missions under an indefinite delivery/indefinite-quantity framework as part of NASA's three-phase program to build a permanent Moon base, with phase one running until 2029. Voyager Lunar Systems will deliver foundational instruments, structures, and systems including the LunaGrid solar energy and wireless power network and inflatable habitation structures from partner Max Space. The acquisition, valued at up to $300 million in cash and stock, was first announced in early June and closed rapidly. Despite the positive news, Voyager's stock fell nearly 5% on Monday amid concerns over deepening losses and rising debt, including a recent $250 million credit facility and a $435 million convertible notes offering.
Lunar Outpost Europe Joins ESA Moonraker Lunar Mapping Mission
Lunar Outpost Europe is contributing to the Moonraker lunar LiDAR mapping mission led by NUVIEW GmbH, which has been selected by ESA for a Phase A study under the Small Missions initiative. Moonraker will generate high-resolution, three-dimensional elevation data of the lunar South Pole to support landing site assessment, hazard identification, and mission planning, producing the most accurate Digital Elevation Maps of the lunar surface to date. Lunar Outpost Europe will serve as the Thermal Design and Model-Based Systems Engineering lead, developing novel thermal management solutions to withstand extreme temperature swings in low lunar orbit. To accelerate development, Lunar Outpost is flying TACOS, a thermal components payload funded by the European Commission, on a low Earth orbit launch to gain flight heritage for key Moonraker components. The mission is slated for launch in 2030.
Craig-Hallum Maintains Buy on Intuitive Machines Despite 40% Monthly Decline
Craig-Hallum has maintained a Buy rating on Intuitive Machines with a $42 price target, even as the stock has fallen roughly 40% over the past month. The firm highlighted NASA's recent lunar lander contract awards, where Intuitive Machines received $148 million, Firefly Aerospace $144 million, and Astrobotic $298 million. Craig-Hallum noted that the Intuitive Machines and Firefly awards were roughly in line with expectations, while Astrobotic's award came in higher than anticipated. The firm also praised new NASA administrator Isaacman's approach for its steady cadence of well-considered awards and efficient use of resources. Earlier, on June 24, B. Riley analyst Mike Crawford maintained a Buy rating with a $45 price target, calling the recent weakness a buying opportunity and citing the company's $1.1 billion order backlog and progress in building an end-to-end space and lunar infrastructure stack.
Three Space Economy Stocks Could Deliver Colossal Gains Over the Next Decade
AST SpaceMobile, Intuitive Machines, and Redwire are positioned for significant growth in the space economy over the next ten years. AST SpaceMobile, a direct-to-cell satellite competitor to SpaceX's Starlink, plans to have 45 larger BlueBird satellites in orbit this year and reported first-quarter revenue of $14.7 million with full-year guidance of $150 million to $200 million. Intuitive Machines, the first commercial company to soft-land on the Moon, posted record quarterly revenue of $186.7 million after acquiring Lanteris Space Systems and holds a backlog of $1.1 billion. Redwire, which provided technology for NASA's Artemis II Moon flyby and operates a space greenhouse, saw revenue rise 57.9% to $97 million and was selected as one of 14 companies for the Space Force's 10-year Andromeda program, now valued at $6 billion.
ispace to Launch Lunar Transport Service Using SpaceX's Starship
Space startup ispace announced on the 8th that it will launch a lunar transport service utilizing SpaceX's reusable spacecraft Starship. The company has secured 500 kilograms of payload capacity on Starship and will begin taking orders from around the world. ispace has failed twice in its attempts to land on the moon using its own lander, and alongside a retry planned for 2028, it aims to diversify its options by using SpaceX's spacecraft. The company also plans to independently develop a dedicated Mobile Cart System to transport payloads to their destinations after Starship lands, offering integrated services from transport to lunar surface operations support. CEO Takeshi Hakamada stated that the initiative came about through an approach from SpaceX, and that ispace's expertise in lunar operations and its global network of bases were highly regarded.
Firefly Aerospace wins $13 million NASA JPL subcontract for Mars mission aeroshell
Firefly Aerospace has secured a $13 million subcontract from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to build the aeroshell for the SkyFall Mars mission, targeted for launch in late 2028. The aeroshell, consisting of a backshell and heatshield, will be developed in Firefly's new Gloworks innovation lab and manufactured at its Rocket Ranch in Texas using advanced carbon composite technologies from its Blue Ghost lunar landers and other vehicles. After rigorous testing, Firefly will deliver the aeroshell to JPL for further environmental testing before integration with the mission's three heritage Mars helicopters. The SkyFall mission aims to deploy these helicopters using a mid-air release technique to capture high-resolution surface imagery and subsurface radar data, scouting for water ice and paving the way for future astronaut missions.
NASA Awards $590 Million in Lunar Lander Contracts to Three Companies
NASA has awarded $590 million in new lunar lander contracts to three companies as part of its Moon Base program's first phase, explicitly framed as the second tranche in an ongoing series. Astrobotic, which is being acquired by Voyager Technologies, received the largest slice at $297.9 million for two lander deliveries. Firefly Aerospace won $144.2 million for one lander mission, and Intuitive Machines received $148.3 million for one lander mission. The awards are driven by a race to the lunar south pole, where water ice could be converted into rocket propellant, with NASA targeting a crewed landing in 2028 and China targeting 2030.
Seeking Alpha analysts Daniel Jones and Petri Dish Reports shared their views on the best space stock plays. Daniel Jones favors Iridium Communications among satellite prospects, but picks Amazon as his top space-oriented company, citing its acquisition of Globalstar at $90 per share and plans for a next-generation direct-to-device satellite system starting in 2028 that could tap a $1.61 trillion broadband and mobile services opportunity. Petri Dish Reports recommends diversifying across space niches, highlighting Earth observation and space surveillance with Planet Labs and BlackSky, launch and satellite services with Rocket Lab, defense-adjacent hypersonics and propulsion with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, and space infrastructure with Intuitive Machines.
SpaceX's 100-Year Vision Rests on Starship, Orbital Data Centers, and Interplanetary Bases
SpaceX's long-term future hinges on four major catalysts, starting with the commercialization of its Starship megarocket, which would dramatically lower launch costs and accelerate space access. Success with Starship could enable orbital data centers, leveraging free solar energy and vast real estate to support a vertically integrated network with the already-profitable Starlink internet service for AI workloads. The company also plans to produce its own AI chips through a Terafab initiative aiming for one terawatt of annual compute hardware. Ultimately, SpaceX seeks to build a base on the Moon and cities on other planets, repurposing landed Starships as permanent infrastructure, with Starlink and orbital data centers aiding communication and power needs.
Amentum JV Awarded NASA COSMOS Contract for Mission Operations
Amentum Holdings, through its joint venture with Aerodyne Industries called ASCEND, has been awarded NASA's Consolidated Spaceflight Mission Operations and Systems, or COSMOS, contract. The contract will provide mission operations, systems engineering, and training support to the Flight Operations Directorate at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Work will support the International Space Station, the Artemis lunar exploration program, and the Orion and Space Launch System programs. Amentum will facilitate astronaut and instructor training, flight controller readiness, and the development of mockup environments for deep-space missions.
U.S. stock futures pointed lower on Wednesday as investors awaited remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh and monitored peace talks between the United States and Iran. Shutterstock shares plunged 28% after Getty Images abandoned its planned merger, citing unacceptable regulatory conditions from the U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority. Intuitive Machines climbed 7.4% after NASA awarded it a contract worth up to $148.3 million to deliver a Nova-C lunar lander by 2028, the company's sixth task order under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. Grindr surged 7.6% after Morgan Stanley upgraded the LGBTQ+ dating platform to Overweight and raised its price target to $18, citing strong user engagement. Klarna Group gained 6% after a Swedish court awarded its subsidiary PriceRunner approximately $1.97 billion in antitrust damages against Alphabet's Google. Oklo advanced 4.8% after the U.S. Department of Energy approved the Documented Safety Analysis for the Groves Isotope Test Reactor, moving it into final pre-startup review ahead of a July 2026 startup. ServiceNow rose 4% after Guggenheim upgraded the enterprise software company to Buy, citing durable recurring revenue growth. Nike fell nearly 4% after forecasting continued sales declines in the first half of fiscal 2027, overshadowing better-than-expected fourth-quarter revenue. Alcoa slipped 4.7% after agreeing to acquire South32's bauxite, alumina and aluminum assets for $4.1 billion.
Firefly Aerospace has been awarded a $144 million contract by NASA under its Commercial Lunar Payload Services program to deliver three science instruments to the Moon in 2028. The mission will use the company's Blue Ghost lunar lander and marks Firefly's sixth contracted lunar mission. Firefly expects to complete the mission in about two years, roughly half the time taken for its first Blue Ghost mission, by using a standardized lander design and incorporating lessons from its successful lunar landing. The mission supports NASA's Artemis program and long-term plans for a sustained lunar presence. Firefly's stock rose 2.5% in aftermarket trading.