Welcome to the final frontier – space. No longer the stuff of indy sci-fi films and comic books, space exploration and development is happening right now. And with those advancements, space stocks has become a booming sector for investors.
Although some major space shares like SpaceX remain private (for now), there are still a bunch of publicly traded companies that allow you to own a slice of space. We’ve covered some of the best space stocks in this galaxy to give you a decent launchpad if you’re thinking about buying space shares.
| Space stock | Icon | 1-year performance (to Apr. '26) | 5-year performance (to Apr. '26) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planet Labs PBC (PL) |  |
1,166.89% | 814.63% (3 years) | More info |
| Rocket Lab USA (RKLB) |  |
379.68% | 747.16% | More info |
| Ast Spacemobile (ASTS) |  |
290.08% | 825.71% | More info |
| MDA Ltd (MDALF) |  |
93.69% | 590.22% (3 years) | More info |
| EchoStar Corporation (SATS) |  |
543.38% | 462.72% | More info |
| ViaSat (VSAT) |  |
669.27% | 34.74% | More info |
| Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) |  |
26.83% | 52.93% | More info |
| Intuitive Machines (LUNR) |  |
290.91% | 212.37% (3 years – 2021 IPO) | More info |
| Redwire Corp (RDW) |  |
9.43% | 1.09% | More info |
| L3Harris Technologies (LHX) |  |
62.79% | 65.43% | More info |
All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.
If you're interested in investing in this industry, take a closer look at what companies in this industry do and how the stocks have historically performed. Keep in mind that positive past performance doesn't guarantee that a stock will continue to rise in the future.
Planet Labs operates one of the largest fleets of Earth-imaging satellites, capturing daily data about the planet. Its business is less about rockets and more about data-as-a-service, selling insights to governments, agriculture, and climate-focused clients. In a world increasingly driven by geospatial intelligence, Planet is effectively building the “Google Earth of real-time data,” making it a pure-play on the information layer of the space economy.
Planet Labs PBC is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around $307.7 million and employs 945 staff.
Capital at risk
Rocket Lab has become the second-most active launch provider in the US, specialising in small satellite launches with its “Electron” rocket while developing the larger “Neutron” vehicle. What makes it especially compelling is its evolution into a full end-to-end space company. It offers launch, satellite manufacturing, and in-orbit services. For investors, it’s often viewed as one of the closest public-market proxies to SpaceX-style growth.
Rocket Lab USA is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around $601.8 million and employs 2,600 staff.
Capital at risk
AST SpaceMobile is attempting something transformative
Ast Spacemobile is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around $70.9 million and employs 1,126 staff.
Capital at risk
Canada-based MDA is a quieter but critical player, focused on space robotics, satellite systems, and geointelligence. It’s best known for contributing robotic arms to space missions and supplying infrastructure for both government and commercial projects. For investors, MDA represents a more industrial, picks-and-shovels approach to space rather than headline-grabbing launches.
MDA is listed on the PINK, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around $1.6 billion and employs 4,000 staff.
Capital at risk
EchoStar operates satellite communications networks and has gained attention through its strategic ties to spectrum and satellite assets, including indirect exposure to SpaceX-related developments. Its role in the space ecosystem is about enabling connectivity infrastructure, making it a more telecom-oriented way to invest in orbital assets rather than exploration.
EchoStar Corporation is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around $15 billion and employs 12,100 staff.
Capital at risk
Viasat is a major satellite internet provider competing in the fast-growing connectivity market. It focuses on broadband from space, particularly for aviation, defence, and remote regions. As demand for global connectivity rises, Viasat represents a more mature, revenue-generating play within the satellite communications segment.
ViaSat is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around $4.6 billion and employs 7,000 staff.
Capital at risk
Lockheed Martin is a defence giant, but it also has a significant space division spanning satellites, missile systems, and deep partnerships with NASA. For UK investors seeking space exposure with lower volatility, Lockheed offers stable cash flows backed by government contracts, rather than speculative moonshot growth.
Lockheed Martin Corporation is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around $75 billion and employs 123,000 staff.
Capital at risk
Intuitive Machines is focused on lunar exploration, developing landers and infrastructure for NASA and commercial missions. It’s directly tied to the Artemis programme and the push to return humans to the Moon. In 2026, it sits at the frontier of the emerging lunar economy, though its reliance on NASA contracts makes it sensitive to policy shifts.
Intuitive Machines is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around $210.1 million and employs 525 staff.
Capital at risk
Redwire specialises in space manufacturing, including in-orbit production, satellite components, and mission infrastructure. It’s part of a new wave of companies aiming to build the industrial backbone of space, from 3D printing in orbit to solar power systems. The investment case hinges on the idea that space will become a place not just to explore, but to manufacture and build.
Redwire is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around $335.4 million and employs 1,410 staff.
Capital at risk
L3Harris provides advanced space-based defence systems, including missile tracking and surveillance satellites. It offers exposure to the militarisation of space, an increasingly important theme, making it a lower-risk, defence-led way to invest in space growth.
L3Harris Technologies is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around $12.9 billion and employs 45,000 staff.
Capital at risk
Yes! Although there’s not a massive choice of space exchange-traded fund (ETF) options right now, there are a couple you can currently choose from:
Space is no longer just about astronauts and science missions – it’s a fast-growing commercial industry.
From satellite internet to Earth imaging and even space tourism, private companies are driving innovation. For UK investors, this opens up opportunities to tap into a global trend that’s still in its early stages, with potential for long-term growth.
Like dark matter, space stocks aren’t always obvious. Some companies launch rockets, while others build satellites or provide the data those satellites collect.
You’ll also find big aerospace firms, defence stocks, telecom companies, and even tech businesses with space divisions. This means you can invest in space indirectly, not just through headline-grabbing rocket launches.
Not all space businesses orbit the same areas, and understanding the categories helps you diversify your approach:
Investing in space stocks can be exciting, but it comes with a unique set of risks that are important to understand before you commit and strap in your money:
"One of the most underestimated drivers of success in space investing is data demand on Earth. While rockets and launches grab headlines, the real money is increasingly in what satellites do once they’re in orbit – tracking climate change, powering GPS, enabling broadband, and supporting defence systems.
As global demand for real-time data grows, companies that can collect, process, and sell that information effectively may outperform those focused purely on launch technology. In other words, the winners in the space race might not be the ones reaching space first, but the ones turning space into everyday value back on Earth."
Finding the best space stocks to invest in can be extremely challenging, it’s impossible to say which ones will go to the moon and defy gravity, and which space companies will fall back to earth in a heap.
Because this sector is still in its infancy, there’s not much in the way of ETF options to diversify either. So, just be aware, some of these stocks may go on to become masters of the universe while others may fall by the wayside.
All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.
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