The global space economy is heading toward $1 trillion by 2040. SpaceX is still private. Here are the best publicly traded space stocks and ETFs to get exposure in 2026 — from Rocket Lab's launch dominance to Planet Labs' daily Earth imaging.
The global space economy is on a trajectory that would have seemed implausible a decade ago. Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and Bank of America all project it approaching $1 trillion by 2040 — driven by satellite communications, Earth observation, defence applications, and eventually lunar infrastructure. What was once exclusively a government domain has been transformed into a rapidly expanding commercial industry, led by private companies with ambitions that match those of any national space agency.
For investors, the question is how to gain exposure to this growth. SpaceX — the most valuable and arguably most important space company in the world — remains private. That pushes capital toward the publicly listed alternatives, and there are now more of them than ever, across a wide risk spectrum from blue-chip defence contractors to early-stage moonshots.
This guide covers the best space stocks and ETFs to consider in 2026 — updated to reflect the current landscape, not 2022’s.
“Space is becoming infrastructure, not just exploration. Satellites power communications, defence, and Earth observation. The companies building that infrastructure are worth understanding.”
How to Invest in Space Stocks
Before getting into specific names, here’s how you can access space investments through a standard brokerage account:
At a Glance: Best Space Stocks and ETFs in 2026
| Company / Fund | Ticker | Type | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocket Lab USA | RKLB | Launch + satellites | Medium-High |
| AST SpaceMobile | ASTS | Space-based cellular | High |
| Planet Labs | PL | Earth observation | Medium-High |
| Intuitive Machines | LUNR | Lunar landers + NASA | High |
| Procure Space ETF | UFO | Diversified space ETF | Medium |
| ARK Space Exploration ETF | ARKX | Space + defence ETF | Medium |
The Best Space Stocks and ETFs to Buy in 2026
NASDAQ: RKLB
Rocket Lab is the most established pure-play space launch company available to public market investors. Its Electron rocket has become the go-to vehicle for small satellite launches, and the company now regularly launches two dozen rockets per year for private and public sector customers. Its Photon spacecraft platform extends the business beyond launch into satellite manufacturing and operations.
The company is one of UFO ETF’s top holdings and consistently appears at the top of space stock rankings. It is also frequently cited as one of the primary beneficiaries of investor interest in SpaceX exposure — since SpaceX remains private, investors looking for the closest publicly traded equivalent often land on Rocket Lab. The Neutron medium-lift rocket, when operational, would significantly expand its addressable market.
NASDAQ: ASTS
AST SpaceMobile is building the first space-based cellular broadband network designed to connect directly to ordinary smartphones — no special hardware required. Its BlueBird satellites, already in orbit, have demonstrated the ability to deliver 4G and 5G connectivity to standard mobile phones from low Earth orbit. The company has signed agreements with major carriers including AT&T, Verizon, and Vodafone.
The investment case is simple and ambitious: eliminate cellular dead zones globally by delivering connectivity from space. The risk is equally significant — the capital requirements to build out a full constellation are enormous, and execution risk is high. But the addressable market, if the technology scales, is vast. This is a high-conviction, high-risk position.
NYSE: PL
Planet Labs operates the world’s largest fleet of Earth observation satellites — over 200 Dove satellites that image the entire Earth’s landmass every day. That daily cadence is what makes Planet genuinely different: it’s not just satellite imagery, it’s a continuous data stream that lets customers track deforestation, crop yields, infrastructure development, maritime traffic, and military activity in near real-time.
The customers are diverse — government agencies, agricultural businesses, financial institutions, NGOs, and defence contractors. The subscription-based data business model means recurring revenue rather than one-off hardware sales. Planet is not yet profitable, but its data moat and the growing commercial and government demand for Earth observation make it a compelling long-term story. Read our full Planet Labs stock analysis here.
NASDAQ: LUNR
Intuitive Machines made history in February 2024 when its Nova-C lander became the first commercial spacecraft to land on the Moon — the first American lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. It did so under contract to NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) programme, which is building a commercial ecosystem around returning humans to the Moon.
The lunar economy is still early-stage, but the investment thesis is clear: governments are spending heavily on lunar programmes, and they’re increasingly doing so through commercial contracts rather than building everything in-house. Intuitive Machines is positioned as a foundational infrastructure provider for that emerging ecosystem. The risk is that timelines slip, contracts are delayed, and the capital requirements of operating at the frontier of space are unforgiving.
NASDAQ: UFO
For investors who want broad space exposure without picking individual winners, UFO is the most established pure-play space ETF. With approximately 50 holdings across launch, satellites, telecommunications, and defence, it provides diversification across the sector. Rocket Lab, MDA Space, and Viasat are among its top holdings. The fund has comfortably outperformed the S&P 500 with strong year-to-date and one-year gains in 2026, with $749 million in assets under management.
The trade-off is that ETF diversification reduces the upside of any single big winner, and the 0.75% expense ratio is meaningful over time. But for investors who want sector exposure without the risk concentration of individual stocks, UFO remains the clearest option.
NYSE: ARKX
ARK Invest’s actively managed space ETF has outperformed the S&P 500 with strong gains over the past year. Unlike UFO, which tracks an index, ARKX is actively managed — ARK’s team selects holdings based on their conviction in specific companies and technologies. The fund includes both pure-play space names and enabling technologies like 3D printing and robotics that ARK believes will be critical to space infrastructure.
ARK funds attract strong opinions — their active approach has delivered both standout periods of outperformance and significant drawdowns. ARKX is suitable for investors who share ARK’s long-term conviction in disruptive space technologies and are comfortable with the volatility that comes with an actively managed, concentrated fund.
The SpaceX Question
No discussion of space investing is complete without addressing SpaceX — the most consequential space company in history and, frustratingly for public market investors, a private one. SpaceX’s Starship programme, Starlink satellite internet service, and dominance of the launch market make it the company that everyone wants to own and almost no one can.
Speculation about a SpaceX IPO is constant. When it eventually happens — and most analysts believe it will, though the timeline is uncertain — it would likely cause a major re-rating of the entire sector. Until then, Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile are the names that consistently attract capital from investors seeking SpaceX-adjacent exposure.
Final Thoughts
The space investment opportunity in 2026 is real — but it requires clarity about what you’re buying and why. The sector spans everything from speculative early-stage bets on lunar infrastructure to established ETFs with years of track record. The right mix depends entirely on your risk tolerance and time horizon.
For most investors, anchoring in a diversified ETF like UFO while adding selective individual stock positions in names like Rocket Lab or Planet Labs is a more sensible approach than concentrating in any single early-stage company. Space is a long-duration investment theme — the trillion-dollar economy won’t arrive overnight, and the companies building toward it will need patient capital to get there.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Space stocks are high-risk investments. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions.