When I was starting out investing in space, it wasn’t easy to find comprehensive lists of public space companies and related investment opportunities, so I thought I’d post this to help out those who are new to investing in this sector.
I am not recommending any particular investments – I’m just providing a list of what’s available in the space sector.
ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds)
These are funds that give you exposure to a range of different companies with a single investment – click on the ticker symbol for the latest prices or click the fund names to visit their websites for their prospectus and to see which companies they include in the fund. The Expense Ratios I’ve listed were accurate at the time of posting, but can change over time.
ARKX – ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF
An actively managed fund that invests in space companies and those that produce space enabling technologies such as 3D printing as well as those the fund managers believe will benefit from space such as agriculture. They also invest in other areas such as drones, air taxis, and electric powered aircraft.
Expense Ratio: 0.75%
DEFN – Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares
A fund based on the Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index but uses leverage seeking to return 300% of the index’s daily performance. The index is float-adjusted market capitalization weighted, with a 22.5% weighting cap.
Expense Ratio: 0.96%
ITA – iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF
This fund is also based on the Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index but does not use leverage – it simply seeks to return similar results to the index over time, before fees are taken out.
Expense Ratio: 0.42%
ORBT – Harvest Space Innovation Index ETF
Based on the Solactive Space Innovation Index which is different to most other space indices as it uses a purely algorithmic process to determine which companies to include.
Expense Ratio: 0.79%
PPA – Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF
Based on the Spade Defense Index which uses a modified market capitalization weighting methodology – visit the link for more information about how they decide what to include.
Expense Ratio: 0.61%
ROKT – SPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETF
Based on the S&P Kensho Final Frontiers Index which is a list of stocks manually weighted each year and rebalanced twice a year. You could consider this to be a semi-managed index.
Expense Ratio: 0.45%
UFO – Procure Space ETF
This is based on the S-Network Space Index which is rules based and has no human intervention.
Expense Ratio: 0.75%
YODA – Procure Space UCITS ETF
This is a version of the UFO ETF above and trades on the London Stock Exchange and several European exchanges.
Expense Ratio: 0.75%
Public Space Companies
Some of these are pure-space and some have mixed businesses with activities in areas such as aviation and defense. Due to the mixed business nature of many companies, there is no standard definition of what a space company is, so I use the following criteria:
- Provides or is developing products or services designed for use in space, or for use by organizations that operate in space; or
- Offers products or services that are largely dependent of space infrastructure; or
- Is a significant shareholder in one or more companies that operate in space.
The following list only includes companies that are traded on major stock exchanges; I’ve left out those that are only available Over-The-Counter or via Regulation Crowdfunding portals such as Spaced Ventures.
Disclosure: I am invested in some of the companies listed below – I disclose all my space related investments in these two lists: my public eToro space account and a list of the rest of my space investments.
099320 – SatrecInitiativeCo Ltd
A South Korean satellite and component manufacturer that has been producing satellites since the late 1980’s.
5OB – Creotech Instruments SA
A satellite manufacturing company from Poland that, as one of their projects, is currently developing a small Earth Observation constellation for the Polish Armed Forces.
7011 – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd
Plays a major role in Japan’s space program, operates the H-IIA family of rockets and is working with JAXA on the low cost medium launch vehicle, the H3).
7012 – Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd
Has also been deeply involved in Japan’s space industry and currently provides the fairings for the H-IIA and H3 rockets.
7013 – IHI Corporation
A huge engineering company that has a Rocket Systems and Space Exploration division that produces turbopumps and solid rocket boosters for JAXA’s H-IIA family of rockets.
7267 – Honda Motor Co Ltd
Also available on the NYSE under the ticker HMC. In 2021 they announced that they had been quietly developing a space program that leverages their engineering systems and expertise to develop systems such as a lunar power system, lunar robotics, and a small reusable orbital class booster.
9232 – PASCO CORP
An Earth Observation company that provides both aerial and space based imagery from both optical sensors and Synthetic Aperture Radar.
9412 – SKY Perfect JSAT Holdings Inc.
A satellite communications provider from Japan which recently announced the formation of a joint venture with NTT called Space Compass Corporation which will be capitalized with ¥6 Billion to provide high speed optical data links for satellites.
AAC – AAC Clyde Space AB
A Swedish company that provides small satellites and components in addition to operating their own satellites and providing data services.
AIR – Airbus SE
Airbus has a Space division that builds satellites, crewed spacecraft systems, space station modules and much more. Their investment division, Airbus Ventures, invests in new space companies. Additionally, they own 50% of ArianeGroup which is the parent company of launch provider Arianespace.
AJRD – Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc
Manufacturer of liquid fuelled rocket engines and solid fuelled rocket motors. They supply NASA, commercial launchers and the military. They produce engines for SLS and Vulcan Centaur just to name a couple.
AMZN – Amazon.com Inc.
Amazon is developing Project Kuiper – an LEO low-latency broadband internet satellite constellation that will compete with the likes of Starlink, OneWeb and Telesat Lightspeed.
ARQQ – Arqit Quantum Inc
They use satellites to securely distribute cryptography keys using principals of quantum mechanics.
ASTR – Astra Space Inc
A launch provider that currently provides delivery of small to medium satellites of up to 335 Kg to SSO and up to 630 Kg to LEO.
ASTS – AST SpaceMobile Inc
They plan to build an LEO constellation of satellites that can provide 4G/5G service direct to unmodified regular mobile phones instead of using specialized handsets like Iridium uses. They plan to initially focus on the equatorial region and later expand globally.
AVIO – Avio SpA
Manufacturer of rockets, engines, propulsion systems and payload adapters. They are the manufacturer of the ESA’s Vega family of rockets.
BA – BAE Systems plc
They have a storied history in aerospace and their Space Systems division currently provides radiation-hardened electronics and ground stations. They are primarily a defense contractor and the U.S. Department of Defense is one of their important customers.
BA – Boeing Co
Boeing provides a wide range of space related products and services. Most notably they are the prime contractor for SLS and they designed and manufacture the reusable Starliner crewed spacecraft. They also own half of United Launch Alliance.
BKSY – Blacksky Technology Inc
An Earth Observation company providing commercial access to satellite imagery from their own constellation, in addition to a range of software services to analyse, detect objects and label them automatically.
BLL – Ball Corporation
Their Ball Aerospace division provides sensors, instruments, spacecraft, data services, aerospace products, and components for NASA, the DoD, Intelligence Community, U.S. Armed Forces, as well as commercial customers worldwide.
BWXT – BWX Technologies Inc
In addition to their Syncom Space Services LLC (S3) joint venture which manages NASA’s Stennis Space Center and Michoud Assembly Facility they are also working on Nuclear Thermal Propulsion for NASA in addition to their Fission Surface Power project to create a reactor that can operate on the surface of the Moon or Mars.
CENTUM – Centum Electronics Ltd.
An Indian company that produces a range of space hardware and are a major supplier to the Indian Space Research Organisation.
CMTL – Comtech Telecommunications Corp
Provides a range of ground station systems for use with satellites to both commercial and governmental customers.
DISH – DISH Network Corp
A Pay TV company that provides satellite broadcast services to residential and commercial customers.
EOS – Electro Optic Systems Holdings LTD
Makes space domain awareness sensors used in applications such as space debris management, missile defense and optical communications.
EGSA – Egyptian Satellite Co SAE (NileSat)
Provides radio and television using a combination of their own GEO satellites and several owned by Eutelsat.
ESLT – Elbit Systems Ltd
Manufacturer of a range of space hardware with a focus on electro-optic observation systems. They have even been contracted to produce a complete space telescope.
ETL – Eutelsat Communications SA
They are a provider of GEO satellites catering to a range of markets with Broadcast video being their largest. They have been branching out into the ‘new space’ territory with their ELO (Eutelsat LEO for Objects) IoT service and their purchase of 22.9% of OneWeb which provides low-latency LEO satellite broadband internet.
GD – General Dynamics Corporation
Their Mission Systems division provides a range of space products and services including ground stations, communication systems, mission payloads and more.
GIB – CGI Inc
An Information Technology consulting company that has been providing space related services since the 1970s.
GILT – Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd
Provides broadband communications using satellites for applications in broadband access, cellular backhaul, enterprise, in-flight connectivity, maritime, trains, and defense.
GOGO – Gogo Inc
Provides in-flight broadband internet services to the business aviation sector using the satellite constellations of Iridium and Inmarsat.
GOMX – GomSpace Group AB
A manufacturer of nanosatellites and components used in applications ranging from remote sensing and global tracking to IoT and communications.
GOOGL – Alphabet Inc
Alphabet is currently the second biggest shareholder in SpaceX after Elon Musk with a 6.99% stake. They became an investor in SpaceX in January 2015 and invested again at SpaceX’s $100 billion valuation in December 2021. They also have a deal in place with SpaceX to put Starlink groundstations at their data centers.
GRMN – Garmin Ltd.
Provides a wide range of products to the aviation, maritime, automotive, and outdoor sports and recreation sectors that rely on satellites for communications and positioning data.
GSAT – Globalstar, Inc.
They provide a range of connectivity services from IoT to satellite phones and messaging devices for use in remote locations. They are currently adding 17 new satellites to their network on behalf of a mystery client that is reimbursing them for 95% of the cost.
HEI – Heico Corp
A huge conglomerate that supplies electronic components and systems to a wide range of industries. The space sector is one of those industries. For example, their subsidiary VPT, Inc. provides power conversion systems that are used in space, and EPC Space provides radiation hardened electronics.
HO – Thales SA
They own 67% of Thales Alenia Space (Leonardo SpA owns the other 33%) which produces spacecraft and related systems. They have built ISS modules are working on modules for the Luna Gateway Space Station and Axiom’s modules that will be added to the ISS before becoming a free flying independent space station. They also work on ESA’s European Service Module that will be used on SLS for the Artemis program.
HON – Honeywell International Inc
They supply a wide range of products to the space industry. For example, they had supplied over 1,900 components for the ISS by its 20th anniversary.
IRDM – Iridium Communications Inc
Operates an LEO constellation providing satellite communications using personal messaging devices, sat phones, terminals and more.
J – Jacobs Engineering Group Inc
Provides a range of engineering and technical services to the commercial sector and government agencies. Their Space division provides a range of services to NASA including integration and testing of SLS.
KBR – KBR, Inc.
They supply a range of services to both the commercial and governmental sectors through their civilian and military units.
KEYS – Keysight Technologies Inc
They provide software and systems for use in designing, testing and validating satellite systems and components.
KSS – Kleos Space SA
An Earth Observation company that monitors RF sources and Geolocates them to within 300 meters by flying clusters of 4 satellites in formation.
KTOS – Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc
A defense contractor that provides space related services to both the commercial and military sectors.
KULR – KULR Technology Group Inc
KULR provides thermal management technologies for batteries. They have won over 30 contracts with NASA including providing thermal management solutions used by the Mars Rover, Mercury Messenger, ISS and Artemis.
LDO – Leonardo SpA
Leonardo is an Itailian defense contractor that owns 33% of Thales Alenia Space and 30% of Avio SpA.
LDOS – Leidos Holdings Inc
A defense contractor that provides a range of space services to both the commercial and government sectors. Their subsidiary Dynetics provides a range of spacecraft systems from components such as propulsion systems and the universal stage adapter for SLS. They also provide testing systems and test articles - they built the SLS core stage pathfinder.
LHX – L3Harris Technologies Inc
A defense contractor with a Space & Airborne Systems division that accounts for about a third of the company’s revenue as of April 2022. Their space operations include providing avionics and communication equipment for ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket, missile warning systems for defense, components for GPS satellites and much more.
LLAP – Terran Orbital Corp
Manufactures satellites and components and provides mission management services from launch integration to ground station services. Went public in March 2022 with Lockheed Martin as one of their investors.
LMT – Lockheed Martin Corporation
In addition to owning 50% of United Launch Alliance, their Space division is huge providing a wide range of products to the commercial sector, NASA and the defense sector. Their Lockheed Martin Ventures division also invests in new space companies such as ABL Space Systems, Orbit Fab and Rocket Lab to name a few.
M0Y – Mynaric AG
This German company is also available as an ADS (American Depositary Share) on the NYSE under the ticker MYNA. They make optical communications equipment for Space-to-Space, Space-to-Air and Space-to-Ground laser links. Hans Koenigsmann sits on their supervisory board.
MANT – Mantech International Corp
An IT services company that does a lot of defense work and has a Space Services department and has supported 125 launches for the USAF, NRO, NASA, SpaceX and the United Launch Alliance from Cape Canaveral to Vandenberg AFB on Atlas, Delta, and Falcon launch vehicles.
MAXR – Maxar Technologies Inc
Maxar has been designing and building satellites for decades. They are now one of the leaders in commercial high resolution satellite imagery and are branching out into areas such as on-orbit construction and satellite servicing. They are also providing their SAMPLR Robotic Arm to the Artemis program to collect samples on the moon.
MDA – MDA Ltd
Their history dates back to 1969 and they are perhaps most famous for the Canardarm which was a robotic manipulator used on the Space Shuttle. In 2019 they were selected by the Canadian Space Agency to provide Canadarm3 for use on the Lunar Gateway space station. They also produce a wide range of satellite components and subsystems.
MOG.A – Moog Inc
They produce everything from satellite components to complete spacecraft. They also started a New Space group in 2017 which they refer to as a "company within a company" with a focus on delivering solutions in a cost aggressive and lead time sensitive manner in the commercial sector.
NOC – Northrop Grumman Corporation
They’re a major defense contractor and their Space Systems division is their fastest growing and the one with the highest sales as of April 2022. They’re involved in just about every area of the space industry. Some highlight include supplying the solid boosters for SLS, providing cargo resupply to the ISS, supplying the solid boosters used on ULA’s Atlas and Vulcan rockets and too much more to list here.
NXPL – NextPlat Corp
An e-commerce platform with a focus on space related services. They power storefronts for Orbital Satcom, Global Telesat and GTCTrack.
OHB – OHB SE
This German company is both a component supplier and prime contractor involved in many ESA programs from the Galileo satellite navigation system (Europe’s GPS) to the ISS. They are also developing their Lunar Surface Access Service which is designed to deliver payloads to the lunar surface for commercial and governmental customers.
PH – Parker-Hannifin Corp
Manufacturer of the Stratoflex range of hoses, couplings and valves that are used on rockets and spacecraft.
PL – Planet Labs PBC
An Earth Observation company that was founded in 2010 by former NASA scientists Chris Boshuizen, Will Marshall, and Robbie Schingler. They claim to be the company that revolutionized the new age of commercial EO services.
PKE – Park Aerospace Corp
Produces composite materials and parts that are used in rockets. For example they manufacture ablative materials that are used in rocket engines and heat shields.
RDW – Redwire Corp
A conglomerate that has acquired a number of space businesses, some of which have long histories operating in the space industry. They supply products and services to a wide range of commercial and governmental customers including NASA. They are also part of the Orbital Reef team.
RKLB – Rocket Lab USA Inc
They started as a small sat launch provider with their Electron rocket and since then they’ve been developing first stage reusability and have announced they are developing a medium lift rocket with a reusable first stage. They have also expanded into providing entire spacecraft, components, and software services.
RR – Rolls-Royce Holding PLC
Their space related activities include radioisotope and nuclear fission power systems and they are working on nuclear power and propulsion with the UK Space Agency. They are also an investor in Reaction Engines which is developing a hybrid engine that operates in both air-breathing and rocket modes to enable development of a single stage to orbit spaceplane.
RTX – Raytheon Technologies Corp
The company and its subsidiaries provide a wide range of space products and services ranging from space suits and life support systems to spacecraft components and ground stations. They’re also a supplier to the US Space Force.
SAIC – Science Applications International Corp
An IT services company that has a unit that is focussed on space.
SATL – Satellogic Inc
They have a constellation of Earth Observation satellites and sell data services to commercial and governmental clients in the areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, insurance, maritime and intelligence. Their software can automatically detect and label objects and even determine which direction they are moving in.
SATS – Echostar Corporation
They own both Hughes Network Systems and EchoStar Satellite Services. They use their GEO satellites to provide services to the Broadcast, Enterprise, Government and Military sectors. HughesNet is also an Internet Service Provider offering satellite internet using GEO sats.
SESG – SES SA
Operates a network of GEO and MEO satellites providing a wide range of services from distributing broadcast video to managed mobile backhaul.
SIDU – Sidus Space Inc
They describe themselves as providing ‘Space as a Service’ being able to provide everything from satellite design, manufacturing and launch booking & integration to full constellation management.
SIRI – Sirius XM Holdings Inc
Provides satellite radio subscription services that can be received in static locations and in moving vehicles.
SPCE – Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc
Is planning to provide sub-orbital tourist space flights that will compete with Blue Origin’s New Sheppard flights.
SPIR – Spire Global Inc
They operate a constellation of Earth Observation nanosatellites, which they manufacture in-house, in addition to satellites they acquired when they bought exactEarth. They provide tracking data for ships and aircraft – offering position information even in remote regions that terrestrial radar doesn’t cover. They also provide global weather data and intelligence gathered in the RF spectrum. Additionally they offer constellation management services that take advantage of their operational expertise and global network of ground stations.
SPR – Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.
Their wholly owned subsidiary, Fiber Materials Inc, makes TPS (Thermal Protection Systems) that are used on spacecraft. Although they have been doing this for many years, in 2021 Spirit decided to make space a strategic focus for the company and they now report ‘Defense and Space’ as its own segment in their financial reports.
SSIT – Seraphim Space Investment Trust PLC
This is a venture capital company that invests in space related companies before they go public. Some of their invested companies have already gone public including ArQit, AST SpaceMobile and Spire Global – you can see their portfolio here.
TDG – TransDigm Group
An aerospace manufacturing conglomerate that has acquired over 80 companies. They can be found in some space ETFs but only a small part of their business involves space systems. For example, their subsidiary Leach International Corp provided some components for the James Web Space Telescope.
TDY – Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
They provide a range of hardware for use in space such as image sensors. Their subsidiary Teledyne Brown Engineering is currently producing the Launch Vehicle Stage Adapter for SLS in addition to providing Mission Operations and Integration support services at Marshal Space Flight Center.
THCOM – Thaicom PCL
Owns a fleet of GEO satellites and provides broadband and video distribution services to commercial and governmental customers.
TRMB – Trimble Inc
Provides position and tracking data, much of it using satellites, in areas such as Agriculture, Geospatial, Construction, Transportation and Utilities.
TSAT – Telesat Corp
A Canadian company that provides a range of satellite connectivity services. They are currently developing Telesat Lightspeed which is a planned LEO internet broadband constellation using a combination of polar and inclined orbits and will compete with Starlink, Project Kuiper and OneWeb.
VORB – Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc
Provides small sat launches using a modified 747 aircraft as a fully reusable first stage (or zero stage depending on how you count) similar to the Northrop Grumman Pegasus but at significantly lower cost.
VSAT – Viasat Inc
An Internet Service Provider that offers satellite based services in addition to developing their own satellite and ground station systems.
This list includes pretty much all the public space companies I keep track of to different degrees; however there are probably others out there I currently don’t have on my radar (or that I forgot), so please post any below that you think should be added to the list.
