June 20, 2026, 4:25 PM EDT. SpaceX's recent IPO dazzled markets but won't enter the S&P 500 until 2027 at the earliest due to listing rules, limiting index fund exposure. Investors can gain space sector exposure through S&P 500 companies with aerospace and satellite operations. Honeywell offers aerospace systems and sensors with steady dividends and a broad industrial base. Boeing is involved in space hardware and launch support, while Lockheed Martin focuses on satellites and government space contracts. These firms combine space work with defence, which may affect investor preference. Outside the index, higher-growth companies like AST SpaceMobile and Rocket Lab provide space opportunities but with greater risk and volatility. For cautious investors, diversified industrial players in the S&P 500 present a balanced approach to the expanding space economy.