SpaceX IPO Pre-Buzz: ASTS, LUNR Touted as Space Bets on $2 Trillion Market

SpaceX’s initial public offering, scheduled for June 12, 2026, is poised to set IPO records, and analysts are flagging two space plays investors should consider beforehand: AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and Intuitive Machines (LUNR). PwC projects the global space economy could reach $2 trillion by 2040. AST SpaceMobile builds a satellite network to beam broadband directly to smartphones, competing with SpaceX’s Starlink. The company has partnerships with AT&T, Verizon, and Vodafone, aims to deploy 45–60 satellites by year-end, and counts 5.8 million users plus a $30 million contract with the Space Development Agency. A Blue Origin launch mishap earlier this year forced a satellite deorbit, but ASTS has shifted to multiple launch providers, including SpaceX, expecting its next batch of three satellites this month. Intuitive Machines achieved the first U.S. lunar landing since 1972. It recently secured a $429 million SDA contract for missile-tracking satellites and a $180 million NASA CLPS deal. First-quarter revenue tripled to $186.7 million, and its backlog surpassed $1.1 billion, with management guiding 60% to be recognized as 2026 revenue.