Space Stocks: Satellite, Launch & Space Exploration Companies

Intuitive Machines is a lunar-exploration and space-services company. In February 2024 its Nova-C lander reached the Moon and became the first US spacecraft to soft-land there since Apollo, though it tipped over on landing while still returning data. It is a NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services partner developing lunar data-relay and infrastructure services.

MDA Space is a Canadian satellite manufacturer and space-robotics company. It builds AURORA software-defined satellites for low-Earth-orbit constellations including Globalstar and Telesat Lightspeed, and produces the Canadarm robotic arms used on the International Space Station and the Canadarm3 program. It operates Geointelligence, Robotics and Space Operations, and Satellite Systems divisions.

Voyager Technologies builds defense and space-station systems across three segments: Defense and National Security, Space Solutions, and Starlab. Voyager majority-owns the Starlab joint venture (with Airbus, Mitsubishi, and MDA Space) developing a commercial successor to the International Space Station under a NASA award. It listed on the NYSE in June 2025.

EchoStar provides satellite and wireless services through Hughes, Boost Mobile, DISH TV, and Sling. In 2025 it agreed to sell large blocks of wireless spectrum to AT&T and to SpaceX, the latter partly in SpaceX stock, giving EchoStar indirect SpaceX exposure and a planned Starlink Direct to Cell link for Boost Mobile subscribers.

Planet Labs operates one of the largest fleets of Earth-observation satellites, including its small Dove and higher-resolution Pelican and SkySat spacecraft. The fleet images large portions of the planet frequently, and Planet sells the imagery and analytics to agriculture, government, mapping, and defense customers through a subscription data platform.

Globalstar operates a low-Earth-orbit satellite network for voice, data, and IoT, and supplies the satellite link behind Apple Emergency SOS and related iPhone features. Apple holds a roughly 20% stake, and MDA Space is building its next-generation constellation. In April 2026 Amazon announced an agreement to acquire Globalstar, subject to closing conditions.

Viasat is a satellite-communications company that operates high-capacity geostationary satellites and provides broadband, in-flight connectivity, and government and military communications. Its 2023 acquisition of Inmarsat added L-band mobile-satellite services and a global network. Viasat designs and builds much of its own satellite and ground technology. It is a top space-ETF holding.

Karman designs and manufactures payload protection, propulsion, and interstage systems for missile-defense, hypersonics, and space-launch programs. Its hardware supports US Department of Defense and space-sector launch vehicles and spacecraft. The company is headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, and listed on the NYSE in February 2025.

Iridium operates a constellation of low-Earth-orbit satellites that provides voice, data, and IoT connectivity with global coverage, including the poles. It sells through partners for maritime, aviation, government, and emergency use, and supports satellite messaging features in consumer devices. The network is built to connect anywhere on Earth.

York Space Systems manufactures small satellites and spacecraft platforms and provides mission services for defense, intelligence, and commercial customers. It builds standardized satellite buses through a vertically integrated production facility and began trading on the NYSE in 2026, with its business concentrated in government and defense programs.

Redwire builds space infrastructure and components, including solar arrays, structures, sensors, antennas, and in-space manufacturing and robotics hardware. Its solar arrays and equipment have flown on missions such as the International Space Station and NASA's Psyche spacecraft. It supplies civil-space, national-security, and commercial customers and is developing spacecraft platforms.

BlackSky operates a constellation of Earth-imaging satellites and a software platform that turns the imagery into geospatial intelligence for defense and commercial customers. Its newer Gen-3 satellites deliver very-high-resolution imagery, with first images released within hours of launch during 2025. It focuses on frequent revisit and rapid tasking.

Satellogic operates a constellation of Earth-observation satellites delivering high-resolution optical and hyperspectral imagery and analytics for government and commercial customers. It builds its own CubeSat-class satellites in-house and is scaling its fleet to expand global collection frequency. It became publicly traded through a 2022 SPAC merger.

Spire Global operates a constellation of small satellites that collect data on weather, maritime vessel tracking, and aircraft movements using radio-occultation and signal-reception sensors. It sells the resulting data and analytics by subscription to government weather agencies, maritime, aviation, and other customers, and builds and operates its satellites in-house.

Telesat is a satellite operator providing broadband and connectivity through its geostationary fleet and its planned Lightspeed low-Earth-orbit constellation. It serves broadcasters, enterprises, governments, and telecom carriers, and is building Lightspeed to deliver low-latency broadband for commercial and government customers worldwide.

Virgin Galactic operates a suborbital space-tourism business using air-launched, winged spaceplanes that carry passengers to the edge of space. It paused commercial flights in June 2024 to build its next-generation Delta-class vehicles, which are intended to fly more frequently. Flights are based at Spaceport America in New Mexico.

RTX is an aerospace and defense company whose space work includes missile-warning and missile-tracking satellite sensors, environmental-control systems for crewed spacecraft, and space-based surveillance payloads. Its Blue Canyon Technologies unit builds small satellites and spacecraft components, and Pratt and Whitney supplies the RL10 upper-stage rocket engine used on multiple launch vehicles.

Boeing is a diversified aerospace and defense company with a space division spanning satellites, the CST-100 Starliner crew capsule, and major NASA programs. It builds large communications and navigation satellites, supplies the core stage of NASA's Space Launch System, and is a joint-venture partner in United Launch Alliance.

Lockheed Martin is a defense prime with a large space segment. It builds the Orion crew spacecraft for NASA's Artemis program, GPS and missile-warning satellites, planetary spacecraft, and satellite buses. In late 2024 it acquired small-satellite maker Terran Orbital, adding in-house small-satellite manufacturing to its space portfolio.

Northrop Grumman is a defense prime with extensive space work. It was prime contractor for the James Webb Space Telescope, builds the Cygnus cargo spacecraft that resupplies the International Space Station, makes solid rocket boosters for the Space Launch System, and operates satellite life-extension vehicles that service spacecraft in orbit.

L3Harris is a defense-technology company with a substantial space business. It builds satellite payloads and sensors, including weather-satellite imagers, GPS navigation payloads, and missile-warning and tracking sensors, and develops space-based laser communications. Its 2023 acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne added rocket and in-space propulsion to its portfolio.

Kratos supplies defense and national-security technology including space and satellite ground systems, command and control software, propulsion and rocket-support systems, and unmanned aircraft. Its space business provides ground infrastructure and signal-monitoring for government and commercial satellite operators, alongside hypersonic and missile-system work.

Mercury Systems makes processing and radio-frequency electronics for defense and aerospace systems, including radiation-hardened and rugged components designed to operate in the space environment. Its processors, RF modules, and secure microelectronics are used on satellites, spacecraft, and missile-warning systems for government and prime-contractor customers.

Gilat makes satellite-ground equipment and networking technology, including VSAT terminals, modems, and electronically steered antennas that track moving low-Earth-orbit and geostationary satellites. It supplies cellular backhaul, enterprise, and broadband connectivity solutions to satellite operators and telecom customers, and works with operators such as SES, Telesat, and Hughes.

Amazon is building Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper), a low-Earth-orbit broadband constellation, and has launched production satellites and secured numerous launches to deploy it. Its AWS Ground Station service processes satellite data for customers. In April 2026 Amazon announced an agreement to acquire satellite operator Globalstar, expanding its connectivity reach.

T-Mobile is a US wireless carrier offering satellite-to-phone connectivity through its partnership with SpaceX, using Starlink Direct to Cell satellites to reach areas without cellular coverage. The service uses standard phones and existing spectrum, starting with messaging. Satellite connectivity is a supplemental feature on a terrestrial mobile network.

Verizon is a US wireless and broadband carrier pursuing satellite connectivity to extend coverage into areas without cell service. It has worked with AST SpaceMobile on direct-to-device service and with satellite partners on rural broadband and backhaul. Satellite coverage supplements its terrestrial network rather than forming its core business.

Amphenol is a large interconnect company that makes connectors, cable assemblies, and sensors. It supplies space-grade connectors and interconnect hardware built to survive launch vibration, vacuum, and extreme temperatures, used on satellites and spacecraft. Space is a small portion of a broadly diversified electronics-components business.

General Dynamics is a defense and aerospace company. Its Mission Systems unit provides satellite ground terminals, secure communications and cryptographic equipment, and space command-and-control systems for government customers. Space-related ground and communications systems are a defined business within a company centered on combat vehicles, shipbuilding, and IT services.

Leidos is a US government-services and technology contractor. It supports space missions through enterprise IT, cybersecurity for satellite command systems, mission planning software, space-debris tracking, and ground-systems work for NASA and the Space Force. Space is one defined area within a broad national-security and civil-agency services business.

Leonardo DRS makes defense electronics and sensing systems, including infrared and electro-optical payloads, computing, and network technology used on military platforms and spacecraft. Its space-related work centers on sensor payloads and electronics for national-security satellite and missile-warning programs rather than whole vehicles.

CACI International provides technology and engineering services to US defense and intelligence agencies, including satellite ground systems, signals processing, space-domain-awareness software, and cybersecurity for space assets. Its space-related work supports military and intelligence satellite operations rather than building or operating spacecraft itself.

Huntington Ingalls is primarily a US military shipbuilder, but its Mission Technologies segment provides engineering and technical services that support space programs, including work tied to NASA's Space Launch System manufacturing and spacecraft integration. Space is a small part of a business centered on naval vessels.

SAIC provides engineering, IT, and mission-support services to US government customers including NASA and the Space Force. It supports satellite mission operations, space situational awareness, and digital engineering for space programs. Its role is services and integration around government space missions rather than manufacturing spacecraft.

3M is a diversified materials and industrial company. Its products relevant to space include thermal-protection and insulation materials, adhesives, films, and shielding tapes used on spacecraft and satellites. These materials are a very small part of a business spanning consumer, healthcare, and industrial markets.

HEICO makes aerospace and electronic components and replacement parts. Its space-relevant products include thermal-control hardware, electronic filters, and electromagnetic shielding used on satellites and spacecraft. Space is a small portion of a business focused mainly on commercial-aviation parts and defense electronics.

Ingersoll Rand makes industrial flow and compression equipment. Its space-relevant products include compressors, vacuum pumps, and cleanroom climate-control systems used in satellite assembly and rocket-engine and spacecraft testing facilities. This is a small adjacency within a diversified industrial-equipment company.

Curtiss-Wright makes industrial and defense components including motion-control, power, and data-acquisition hardware. Its space-relevant products include rugged data recorders, radiation-tolerant electronics, and motion and power components used on spacecraft and launch vehicles. Space is a small share of a broadly diversified industrial portfolio.