US space stocks enjoyed a week of catalysts, with SpaceX capturing attention through its inaugural revenue-generating Starship mission and a striking $10 trillion bull-case scenario. However, Rocket Lab, AST SpaceMobile, Intuitive Machines, and Planet Labs PBC posted even larger share price increases. Voyager Technologies surged more than 8% to lead the popular space stocks this week, with Rocket Lab following closely at nearly 8%. AST SpaceMobile climbed 5%, while Planet Labs and Intuitive Machines each rose 3%, compared to SpaceX's 2% advance.

Voyager Secures Additional Infrastructure Contract

On Monday, Voyager delivered and integrated launch-critical hardware for the European Space Agency's in-orbit demonstration project under its contract with Avio. Voyager executive Matt Magana noted the project showcased its capability to rapidly and efficiently deliver "flight-ready systems." Last week, Voyager's Starlab Space launched a global competition with Swiss airline partners, offering up to four teams funding for trips to the International Space Station. On Thursday, Voyager saw trading volume of 1.24 million shares, slightly below its average of 1.7 million. On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for Voyager shifted from "neutral" a week ago to "bullish." The stock has gained over 38% year-to-date.

SpaceX Advances on Two Fronts: Starship Revenue Flight and FCC Approval

SpaceX received Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authorization to provide international telecommunications services supporting Starlink mobile offerings. This approval enables service between US and overseas markets. Starlink currently covers standard US phone users through T-Mobile's T-Satellite service, but SpaceX is exploring direct sales of mobile plans. Reports indicate SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell stated the company could capture "quite a few" customers from major US carriers. Following the $17 billion EchoStar deal, SpaceX now controls roughly 65 MHz of mid-band spectrum, with plans to launch 5G-grade Starlink mobile products by the first half of 2028. At the Goldman Sachs Communications Technology Conference earlier this month, SpaceX CFO Bret Johnsen highlighted signal dead-zone coverage and "global roaming" as key differentiators for Starlink mobile. Meanwhile, the 14th Starship flight is scheduled as early as September 28, expected to deploy 26 operational Starlink V3 satellites, marking the first revenue-generating mission. ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood estimates each fully loaded Starship could generate about $1 billion annually for Starlink. With SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's target of 1,000 flights per year, Starship's market potential could reach $10 trillion by 2030. On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for SpaceX has remained "neutral" over the past week. The stock is up slightly over 3% this year.

Iridium Financing and Neutron Progress Boost Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab raised $1.944 billion through the sale of 29.3 million shares and terminated the $3.6 billion bridge loan supporting its $8 billion acquisition of Iridium Communications. Iridium also amended its $1.775 billion term loan to remain effective post-acquisition. The deal will add Iridium's 66 operational satellites, 14 in-orbit spares, L-band spectrum, and 2.55 million subscribers to Rocket Lab's launch and spacecraft business. Additionally, Rocket Lab completed pre-flight testing of the "Hungry Hippo" fairing for the Neutron reusable rocket and installed a second-stage test stand at Launch Complex 3. The rocket still requires integrated testing, wet dress rehearsal, and first-stage static fire. As SpaceX transitions future commercial missions from Falcon 9 to Starship, Neutron stands to benefit, though its 2026 debut remains uncertain given delays and a January fuel tank rupture. "The window for a launch by year-end is narrowing," Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck said in August. Following US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink's confirmation of "on-orbit space control weapons," Rocket Lab's defense business has drawn attention. The company holds a $266 million Space Force contract for 12 suborbital missile defense launches, plus a $397 million military satellite construction contract. On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for Rocket Lab dropped from "bullish" to "bearish" over the past week. The stock is up 41% in one year.

AST Advances Satellite Tech, but Launch Questions Grow

AST disclosed a patent covering the thermal pipe and honeycomb core design of its 2,400-square-foot Block 2 array, targeting peak speeds near 200Mbps for standard smartphones. However, despite previous statements that BlueBird satellites 14-16 were "ready to ship," AST has yet to announce their shipping or launch dates. The company's latest update confirms BlueBird 14 is complete, with BlueBird 15 and 16 nearing completion. AST plans to place 45 satellites in orbit by early 2027. Competitive pressure is rising. SpaceX and AST target the same market: connecting standard smartphones directly to satellites when ground networks are unavailable. Their business models differ, though: SpaceX is moving toward vertical integration, potentially competing directly for users, while AST intends to remain a wholesale satellite supplier to existing carriers. AST's partners include AT&T, Verizon, FirstNet, Vodafone, Orange, and Rakuten, with its 60 mobile network partners collectively serving around 3 billion users. But SpaceX's direct-to-consumer plans could intensify competition. On regulatory fronts, AST retains an advantage. In April, the FCC authorized AST to use spectrum controlled by US carrier partners like AT&T, Verizon, and FirstNet for commercial satellite-to-phone services, covering up to 248 satellites and allowing coordinated use of partner-controlled 700MHz and 800MHz spectrum. Despite opposition from SpaceX and T-Mobile, the FCC approved AST's request. Separately, two AST executives proposed selling a combined $3.06 million in shares, representing roughly 0.017% of the company's outstanding stock. On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for AST has been "bearish" over the past week.

Intuitive and Planet Land New Orders

Intuitive Machines completed in-orbit testing and handed over the SXM-11 communications satellite to SiriusXM, marking the 13th spacecraft produced by the two companies. This delivery follows orders for two additional satellites and progress on a communications project potentially worth over $600 million. Intuitive Machines ended the second quarter with an $1.8 billion backlog. Meanwhile, Planet Labs signed a five-year contract worth up to $29 million with the German government to provide dedicated satellite capacity, imagery, and analytics services hosted on European infrastructure. Over 400 German federal agencies already use Planet data. On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for Planet fell from "neutral" a week ago to "bearish," with message volume down 56%; Intuitive sentiment shifted from "bearish" to "bullish," with message volume surging 202% over the same period.