Momentus, AST SpaceMobile Lead The Thaw In Space Stocks

Momentus and AST SpaceMobile lead gains in the space sector following the SpaceX initial public offering on June 12.

The space sector is catching its breath Wednesday — and for the first time since SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX) went public last week and triggered a sector-wide selloff, many publicly traded space names are green.

Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ:MNTS) and AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS) are leading the charge with specific catalysts behind their moves.

ASTS stock is climbing. See the chart and price action here.

Momentus’ New Contract

Monmentus shares are up 9.04% to $10.15 intraday. Wednesday's strength follows a new contract announcement with the University of Colorado Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, where Momentus will host and operate the Occultation Wave Limb Sounder mission aboard its Vigoride-9 Orbital Service Vehicle.

The deal adds an academic customer to a roster that already includes NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense.

MNTS stock remains up more than 100% year-to-date despite a 27% drop on June 12 after pricing a $25 million registered direct offering.

AST SpaceMobile Launches Satellites

ASTS is adding 6.75% to $87.80 after successfully launching BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 satellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on Wednesday morning.

The launch advances the company’s space-based cellular broadband constellation and keeps its direct-to-device deployment timeline intact.

ASTS had been under pressure following the SPCX debut, falling more than 20% from its all-time high.

The BlueBird launch — along with growing investor attention on a potential Japanese government satellite broadband contract expected to be awarded this month — is helping restore confidence heading into summer.

Around The Sector

The broader space sector is moving higher Wednesday.

Redwire Corp. (NYSE:RDW) is the next-best performer, up +5.15% to $14.20 after being among the hardest-hit names in last week’s post-SPCX washout.
Rocket Lab Corp. (NASDAQ:RKLB) climbs +4.32% to $109.15.
Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) adds +2.48% to $28.91 and
Voyager Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:VOYG) gains +2.77% to $38.90.
Intuitive Machines, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR), the quietest mover of the group, is posting a modest +1.54% gain to $23.72, per Benzinga Pro data.
Interestingly, SpaceX shares are down more than 4% as of Wednesday’s close.

Looking Ahead

The SpaceX IPO initially acted as a capital vacuum, drawing money away from smaller public space plays. The dynamic may have flipped.

With the IPO hype absorbed and a confirmed BlueBird launch providing a concrete operational milestone, investors appear ready to revisit the commercial space sector.

Whether Wednesday's session marks a durable re-rating or another short-lived bounce remains to be seen — but for now, the space trade is back on.

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