Trump wants to "ensure space superiority." Will U.S. "space stocks" become the next "quantum technology"?

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With the Trump administration officially signing an executive order aimed at establishing space dominance, and with key regulatory appointments settled, the U.S. space industry—from startup rocket companies to established defense contractors—is ushering in an unprecedented wave of valuation reappraisals.

Recently, U.S. space stocks have surged collectively in the market, continuing the strong momentum since last Friday. The direct catalyst for this rally was the executive order signed by Trump last week, “Ensuring American Space Dominance,” which explicitly sets a strategic goal of building a permanent lunar base. Meanwhile, billionaire and Musk ally Jared Isaacman, after a turbulent nomination, was finally confirmed as NASA Administrator by the Senate, further reinforcing market expectations that commercial spaceflight will occupy a central role in future national strategies.

This series of policy moves has been interpreted by Wall Street as a major boon for the industry. In a report on the 18th, Goldman Sachs analyst Anthony Valentini’s team pointed out that the executive order lays the groundwork for expanding America’s presence in space and developing a commercial space economy, directly benefiting launch service providers and relevant defense contractors.

Investor enthusiasm has already been reflected in asset prices. By the end of 2025, the total market capitalization of top U.S. public space companies has grown nearly threefold over the past year. Some investment institutions are even suggesting that space technology may take over from quantum computing as the next tech sector to ignite a market frenzy.

Goldman Sachs Breaks Down the Policy Roadmap: $50 Billion Investment and Lunar Base Countdown

According to a research report from Goldman Sachs, the executive order signed by Trump on December 18 details America’s priorities in the space sector, focusing on achieving national security and economic objectives by expanding commercial participation. Goldman Sachs believes this document provides a positive fundamental underpinning for space launch and exploration companies such as Rocket Lab and Firefly Aerospace, as well as defense contractors like L3Harris and AeroVironment.

The executive order establishes a specific timetable and quantitative targets:

Return to the Moon and Base Construction: Plans to return Americans to the Moon by 2028 through the Artemis Program and establish an initial framework for a permanent lunar outpost by 2030.Commercial Economy Growth: By 2028, aims to add $50 billion in investment to the U.S. space market; and to facilitate private sector efforts to establish a commercial alternative to the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030.Defense and Security: Calls for developing and demonstrating next-generation missile defense technology prototypes by 2028, ensuring capability against threats from very low Earth orbit and cislunar space. Relevant agencies are required to issue specific guidelines within 60 to 180 days.

In addition, the order specifically mentions achieving near-term use of nuclear power in space via deployed nuclear reactors, targeting the launch of a lunar surface reactor by 2030.

Market Cap Soars—Are “Space Stocks” the Next “Quantum Tech”?

Stimulated by favorable policies, capital is flowing rapidly into the space sector. By the end of 2025, the combined market cap of the 19 leading U.S. listed space companies has reached $131 billion, up from just $45 billion a year ago, an increase of nearly threefold.

Monday’s market performance was particularly eye-catching. Firefly Aerospace, a rocket manufacturer that went public in August this year, surged 16%, while Intuitive Machines jumped around 12%. Rocket Lab also soared 10%, continuing last Friday’s nearly 18% jump due to announcing an $816 million satellite contract with the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA).

This feverish sentiment has sparked associations among market observers. Sigma Zero Capital stated on social media:

“It can now be said—space technology will become the next retail investor craze after quantum computing.”

Key Catalyst: Musk Ally Takes the Helm at NASA and SpaceX’s Super IPO

Beyond macro policy, key appointments have also injected a shot of confidence into the industry’s outlook. According to reports, the Senate last week officially confirmed Jared Isaacman as NASA Administrator.

Isaacman is not only a billionaire, but also a close ally of Musk. The appointment process was dramatic: Trump had withdrawn Isaacman’s nomination earlier this year due to public disagreements, but renominated him in November. During this period, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was assigned to oversee NASA temporarily. Isaacman’s formal appointment has removed uncertainties regarding NASA’s future direction, and the market widely expects that he will foster closer cooperation between NASA and commercial space companies.

Looking ahead, the market is anxiously anticipating another capital feast. According to information, Musk’s SpaceX plans to go public with an initial public offering (IPO) next year. As the industry leader, SpaceX’s listing is seen as the “biggest fireworks” in this space frenzy, likely to further ignite global investor demand for space asset allocation.

Risk Warning and DisclaimerThe market carries risks, and investments should be made cautiously. This article does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it take into account the special investment objectives, financial situation, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article are suitable for their particular circumstances. Investing based on this article is at your own risk. ```