Space Stocks Surge as Trump Order, NASA Leadership Clarity Fuel Rally

Space stocks soared on Monday, extending a powerful rally from the previous week as a wave of positive developments—from a new presidential directive to long-awaited clarity at NASA—boosted investor optimism for the burgeoning sector.

Rocket maker Firefly Aerospace, which went public in August, rallied 13%, while Intuitive Machines surged about 7%. Rocket Lab jumped 10%, building on a nearly 18% gain from Friday after it announced a massive $816 million satellite deal with the U.S. Space Development Agency.

The sector-wide enthusiasm is being fueled by tangible government action and major contracts, signaling a potentially lucrative partnership between public ambition and private enterprise.

Policy and Personnel as Rocket Fuel

Last week's liftoff was underpinned by two key events. On Friday, President Donald Trump signed his "space superiority" executive order, which aims to create a permanent U.S. base on the moon. This provides a clear, long-term policy objective that will likely require significant private-sector involvement.

Adding to the stability, the Senate finally confirmed billionaire and Elon Musk ally Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator. The confirmation ends more than a year of leadership uncertainty at the space agency, a period that began after Trump withdrew, then later renominated Isaacman for the post.

PRISM Insight: The New Space Race Is Commercial The recent rally isn't just speculative hype; it's a reaction to the U.S. government becoming a cornerstone client for the commercial space industry. The Trump administration's moon base directive and major defense contracts like Rocket Lab's are de-risking the sector by providing a steady stream of revenue. For investors, the narrative is shifting from pure exploration to the tangible economics of building infrastructure in orbit and beyond, especially with a potential SpaceX IPO on the horizon in 2026.