The list of publicly traded space companies grew substantially during the 2020-2022 SPAC wave, contracted as several de-SPACs underperformed and were delisted, and stabilised around a core group as of 2026.
Pure-play space companies on US exchanges
- Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ: RKLB): launch + space systems
- AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS): direct-to-cellular satellite
- Planet Labs (NYSE: PL): Earth observation imagery
- BlackSky Technology (NYSE: BKSY): rapid-revisit imagery
- Iridium Communications (NASDAQ: IRDM): global L-band comms
- Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT): broadband (Ka-band + L-band after Inmarsat acquisition)
- Maxar Technologies: was public; taken private by Advent in 2023, watch for re-listing
- Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ: LUNR): lunar landers
- Redwire Space (NYSE: RDW): in-space manufacturing, space infrastructure
- Spire Global (NYSE: SPIR): weather, ship and aircraft tracking constellations
- Terran Orbital: taken private 2024 by Lockheed Martin
- MDA Space (TSX: MDA): Canadian space technology
International pure-plays
- Eutelsat Group (EPA: ETL): merged with OneWeb 2023
- SES S.A. (EPA: SESG): Luxembourg-based GEO + MEO O3b
- ispace, Inc. (TYO: 9348): Japanese lunar lander developer
- OHB SE (ETR: OHB): German satellite systems
- Avio S.p.A. (BIT: AVIO): Vega launch services
- Inmarsat: private after Viasat merger
The defence primes (multi-segment but space-heavy)
- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)
- Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC)
- Boeing (NYSE: BA)
- L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX)
- RTX (Raytheon Technologies) (NYSE: RTX)
- BAE Systems (LSE: BA.): defence prime with growing space portfolio
- Thales Group (EPA: HO): Thales Alenia Space joint venture with Leonardo
Why the public-private split matters
Some of the most active space companies (SpaceX, Blue Origin, Stoke Space, Anduril, Hadrian, Vast, Impulse Space, Astranis) are still privately held. Public-market valuations therefore capture only part of the industry. Newer pure-play IPOs are expected as the SPAC-de-listing cycle settles and reusable launch reduces capex risk.
For the always-current list with company profiles, see /companies/public.