Momentus, AST SpaceMobile Lead The Thaw In Space Stocks

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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