New York, June 14, 2026, 07:43 EDT
- SpaceX’s record IPO drew both cash and focus away from smaller U.S. space names, hitting Rocket Lab, AST SpaceMobile, Intuitive Machines and Planet Labs with a sharp selloff on Friday.
- AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 8, 9 and 10 satellites are set to launch on Wednesday, June 17, a clear company event to watch this week.
- Rocket Lab is set to join the Nasdaq-100 before the bell Monday, June 22. The change takes effect then, after a delay.
U.S. space and satellite names are lower as the week starts, after SpaceX’s public float reset sector valuations. SpaceX finished Friday at $160.95, up 19.2% from its $135 IPO price. The gain pushed its market value to about $2.1 trillion. The company raised $75 billion in what now stands as the biggest-ever IPO, selling shares to public investors for the first time.
SpaceX’s rally was bullish for space exposure, but existing space stocks got hit. Rocket Lab and Planet Labs each lost about 8% on Friday, Reuters said. Intuitive Machines fell 11%. AST SpaceMobile dropped more than 12%. Virgin Galactic slid 28% as investors took profits after a lengthy run-up in the sector. “The space sector has seen a strong run up,” Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG Group, told Reuters. He said investors may worry “the hype can’t quite live up to expectations.” Reuters
SpaceX shares climbed as investors paid up for the leading launch, satellite and Starlink business. Smaller rivals traded lower, with some portfolios shifting to make space for the sector heavyweight. Talley Léger, chief market strategist at The Wealth Consulting Group, called it “classic case of ‘capital recycling,’” as investors move money from one name to another in the same area. Now, space stocks are less about the sector as a whole—each company has to show it deserves capital next to SpaceX. Reuters
AST SpaceMobile faces its next big test this month. The company plans to send BlueBird satellites 8, 9 and 10 from Cape Canaveral on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 2:39 a.m. EDT on June 17, with later windows open until 4:15 a.m. The satellites are built for direct-to-device broadband, so standard smartphones could get cellular service straight from space. President Scott Wisniewski called the launch “another important milestone” as AST builds out its space-based network. Business Wire
The launch has gained more weight after Blue Origin’s New Glenn failed its April mission, missing the mark on deploying AST’s BlueBird 7 into the right orbit. The satellite had to be de-orbited. Blue Origin managed to land the booster, but not the payload. Bulls are looking to a smooth Falcon 9 launch to restore faith in AST’s timeline and keep momentum behind the view that the company holds a rare direct-to-phone satellite play with big telecom partners. Any delay, launch mishap, or technical problem after liftoff could push the bear case—that AST still faces major capital and execution risks.
Nasdaq said Rocket Lab will join the Nasdaq-100 Index before markets open June 22. The Nasdaq-100 is followed by over 200 investment products holding more than $800 billion. Getting into the index can lift a stock since index funds tend to buy in. But Rocket Lab’s share price is still a debate. Reuters pointed out the company’s market value was about $66 billion against annual revenue near $600 million—a high price-to-sales ratio.
SpaceX options could hit the market as early as Tuesday, according to Reuters. Options let investors buy or sell a stock at a specified price and often make trading choppier as traders move to hedge or bet on quick swings. Strong demand for SpaceX options might pull more capital toward SpaceX, or boost trading in related satellite and launch stocks for those looking for less expensive ways to play the sector.
U.S. space stocks are looking more risky than cheap today. Bulls argue SpaceX’s public market debut puts a spotlight on the sector, AST faces a near-term launch, and Rocket Lab could see index-fueled demand. Bears point to hefty valuations, ongoing losses at smaller players, and how quickly one bad launch can wipe out gains. For investors, AST’s June 17 mission stands out as the next big event. The launch of SpaceX options and Rocket Lab moving into the Nasdaq-100 on June 22 will also test if Friday’s selloff sets the tone or if there’s more pain for smaller names.
