Space Stocks Weekly #1
Rocket Lab Completes 60th Electron Launch, Space Stocks Earnings Calendar, Redwire Redeems Warrants, and more!
Hello space investors!
Before diving into this week’s updates, I wanted to say thank you to all of you—88 subscribers in just one week, that’s incredible!
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The format
Here’s how Space Stocks Weekly works: I start by sharing the latest news on publicly traded space companies, followed by updates on the broader space industry, including private companies.
This way, you get the full picture of what’s happening in the space industry.
Space Stocks Under Pressure
Space stocks, following tech stocks, have dropped recently due to macroeconomics. The economy shows signs of slowing down and inflation was higher than expected in January. With fears of rising inflation and the possibility of new tariffs, investors are looking to protect their capital.
Last Friday, many investors have reallocated into safer assets, leading to a market rotation into defensive sectors like healthcare, consumer goods, utilities and telecommunications.
Space Stocks Q4 2024 Earnings Calendar
Several companies have officially announced their earnings report dates this week. Here's the updated calendar with confirmed dates:
SPCE 0.00%↑ Feb 26 (After Market Close)
SATS 0.00%↑ Feb 27 (Before Market Open)
RKLB 0.00%↑ Feb 27 (After Market Close)
GSAT 0.00%↑ Feb 27 (After Market Close)
ASTS 0.00%↑ Mar 3 (After Market Close)
BKSY 0.00%↑ Mar 6 (Before Market Open)
$MDA.TO Mar 7 (Before Market Open)
Astroscale (TYO: 186A) Mar 14 (After Market Close)
PL 0.00%↑ Mar 20 (After Market Close)
Rocket Lab Completes 60th Electron Launch
RKLB 0.00%↑ successfully completed their 60th Electron launch.
The Fasten Your Space Belts mission lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, at 12:17 NZDT on February 19th (23:15 UTC on February 18th). The mission successfully deployed BlackSky's first Gen-3 satellite into a 470km orbit.
This is Rocket Lab’s ninth mission for BlackSky, since 2019.
BlackSky is a company that offers real-time satellite imagery and geospatial intelligence, using satellites to track and monitor changes on Earth.
The Gen-3 satellites will provide very detailed 35-centimeter images and use AI to analyze data quickly and at a large scale. These satellites are made to help defense and intelligence customers by improving monitoring, allowing them to detect, identify, and classify objects in real time like vehicles, aircraft, and ships.
Simultaneously, SpaceX also launched 22 additional Starlink satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
You can watch Rocket Lab’s 60th launch here.
Redwire Redeems Outstanding Public Warrants
RDW 0.00%↑ has announced that it will redeem all of its outstanding publicly traded warrants to purchase shares of its common stock. The redemption will take place on March 24, 2025. The company has met the requirements for redemption, as the price of its common stock stayed above $18.00 for 20 consecutive trading days.
If you are currently holding warrants and do not exercise or sell them before the redemption date, they will expire worthless. Don’t forget to take action as soon as possible.
Redwire has raised $57 million from warrants exercised so far.
You can read the company’s announcement here.
Intuitive Machines' Athena Lunar Lander Encapsulated and Ready for Launch
The PRIME-1/IM-2 mission is set for launch from Launch Complex 39A in Florida, through a four-day launch window opening no earlier than February 26. The Nova-C lunar lander, named Athena, will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
This is NASA’s second CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) mission of 2025.
Humanity has never witnessed three lunar landers enroute to the Moon at the same time, and Athena is ready to rise to the occasion. — Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus.
The IM-2 mission will look for water ice on the Moon. The primary payload, NASA's PRIME-1, will drill the lunar surface to extract regolith and analyze its composition. This experiment will provide valuable insights into the Moon’s subsurface, helping to prepare for future crewed Artemis missions.
To learn more about this mission, the payloads the lunar lander will deliver, this year’s other lunar missions and NASA’s CLPS initiative, check out my post below!
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A Rare Glimpse of the U.S. Space Force Space Plane in Orbit
The U.S. Space Force has just unveiled a first look at its highly classified X-37B space plane. The image shows the vehicle in orbit above Earth, high above the African continent.
The X-37B is a secretive, reusable and unmanned space plane built by Boeing BA 0.00%↑ for the U.S. Space Force. It was originally a NASA project but later moved to the Department of Defense. Designed for long missions in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the X-37B carries out experiments, tests new technologies and supports national security operations.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 second stage crashed in Poland
The second stage of SpaceX's Falcon 9 from the Starlink 11-4 mission, launched on February 1, failed to deorbit as planned on February 2. It ultimately reentered Earth's atmosphere over Northern Europe on February 19. The reentry path passed over Poland and Ukraine.
Here is SpaceX’s official statement:
On Wednesday, February 19, the passivated Falcon 9 second stage supporting this mission reentered Earth’s atmosphere over Europe. SpaceX is working closely with the government of Poland on recovery and cleanup efforts. There are no toxic materials present in the debris.
SpaceX Set to Launch Starship 8th Flight Test
Thursday will be a busy day for SpaceX! While they’ll be launching Intuitive Machines’ lunar lander from Florida, they also plan to launch Starship for its eight flight test from Starbase, TX, pending regulatory approval.
SpaceX’s Starship system, with Starship (the “Ship”) as the second stage and Super Heavy (the “Booster”) as the first stage, is a fully reusable launch vehicle designed to transport crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond. It is the most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, with a payload capacity of up to 150 metric tonnes when fully reusable and 250 metric tonnes in an expendable configuration.
On February 12, Ship 34 completed its engine testing campaign with a minute-long static fire—the longest static fire ever performed on this vehicle. SpaceX stated that the test evaluated new hardware and cycled the six Raptors through multiple thrust levels to simulate flight conditions. The data will guide hardware upgrades and flight adjustments.
Booster 15 underwent a 10-second static fire with all its 33 engines on February 9.
With both vehicle test campaigns completed, and final checkouts being performed, SpaceX is reportedly planning to launch Starship on February 26 for its eight flight test.
According to new road closure notices posted on Cameron County’s website, SpaceX flight testing activities are scheduled for February 26, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. CST to 11:30 p.m. CST.
If SpaceX does not complete its planned flight tests on February 26, alternative dates are set for February 27 or February 28, 2025, during the same hours (10:30 a.m. CST to 11:30 p.m. CST).
Furthermore, the FAA Operations Plan Advisory now lists Flight 8:
Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for the Gulf and Indian Ocean have also been posted.
Blue Ghost in Preparation for Final Lunar Orbit Maneuver
On Monday, Firefly’s Blue Ghost vehicle will perform its final orbital maneuver, a 16-second burn to insert the lander into a circular low lunar orbit. The lander’s closest point to the Moon’s surface, also known as “perilune”, will be 100 km.
Blue Ghost is still on track to attempt its landing on March 2.
