With the Trump administration officially signing an executive order to establish space dominance and key regulatory appointments finalized, the US space industry—from startup rocket firms to established defense contractors—is undergoing an unprecedented valuation reassessment.
Recently, US space stocks surged collectively, continuing the strong momentum seen since last Friday. The immediate catalyst was Trump’s executive order to "ensure American space superiority," which explicitly outlined strategic goals, including establishing a permanent lunar base. Meanwhile, billionaire and Musk ally Jared Isaacman was confirmed by the Senate as NASA administrator after a contentious nomination process, further solidifying market expectations that commercial space will play a central role in future national strategy.
Wall Street interprets these policy moves as a major boon for the sector. Goldman Sachs analyst Anthony Valentini noted in an October 18 report that the executive order lays the groundwork for expanding US space presence and developing a commercial space economy, directly benefiting launch providers and defense contractors.
Investor enthusiasm is already reflected in asset prices. By the end of 2025, the combined market cap of leading US space companies had nearly tripled over the past year. Some investment firms even predict space tech could replace quantum computing as the next market frenzy.
**Goldman’s Policy Breakdown: $50B Investment & Lunar Base Countdown** Goldman’s research highlights that Trump’s December 18 executive order details US space priorities, emphasizing national security and economic goals through expanded commercial participation. The report identifies Rocket Lab, Firefly Aerospace, and defense contractors like L3Harris and AeroVironment as key beneficiaries.
The order sets concrete timelines and targets: - **Moon Return & Base Construction**: The Artemis Program aims to return Americans to the moon by 2028 and establish a permanent lunar outpost by 2030. - **Commercial Growth**: $50B in US space market investments by 2028, with private sector alternatives to the ISS by 2030. - **Defense & Security**: Next-gen missile defense prototypes by 2028 to counter threats from low-Earth and cislunar orbits. Agencies must issue implementation guidelines within 60–180 days.
The order also prioritizes nuclear power deployment in space, targeting a lunar surface reactor launch by 2030.
**Market Frenzy: Are Space Stocks the Next "Quantum Tech"?** Policy tailwinds are accelerating capital inflows into space stocks. By late 2025, the top 19 US-listed space firms reached a $131B combined market cap, up from $450B a year prior—a near-tripling.
Monday’s trading stood out: recently IPO’d rocket maker Firefly Aerospace surged 16%, Intuitive Machines jumped 12%, and Rocket Lab rose 10%, extending Friday’s 18% gain after securing an $816M satellite contract with the Space Development Agency (SDA).
Sigma Zero Capital remarked on social media: *"It’s clear—space tech will be the next retail investor craze after quantum computing."*
**Key Catalyst: Musk Ally Leads NASA & SpaceX’s Mega-IPO** Beyond policy, key appointments are boosting sector optimism. The Senate confirmed Jared Isaacman as NASA chief last week. A billionaire and Musk ally, Isaacman’s nomination was initially withdrawn due to public disagreements but reinstated in November. His confirmation ends uncertainty over NASA’s direction, with expectations of deeper collaboration with commercial space firms.
Looking ahead, markets await another capital milestone: Musk’s SpaceX plans an IPO next year. As the industry leader, its debut is seen as the "biggest firework" in the space rally, potentially igniting global investor demand for space assets.