Modern commercial rocket on a launch pad at dawn, highlighting government-backed space infrastructure and growth in the space industry. Key Points Some space industry stocks have boomed this year, driven by hype surrounding federal defense spending, speculation about a SpaceX IPO, and more. Major contracts for Rocket Lab and L3Harris, each worth close to $1 billion, affirm these companies' dominance heading into 2026. AST SpaceMobile's rapid gains this year may cause some concern, but the firm's ambiti ...