NASA’s Artemis II launch sparks gains for lunar-linked stocks
Published: 10:07 02 Apr 2026 EDT
US space stocks took a mixed ride on Thursday after NASA’s Artemis II mission blasting off successfully, with some companies riding the launch hype higher while others gave back gains amid profit-taking.
The mission will send four astronauts on an approximately 10-day journey closer to the Moon than any human has been since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
The launch took place from Kennedy Space Center aboard NASA’s Space Launch System rocket.
Artemis II marks the first crewed flight for NASA’s Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft. Astronauts will not land on the lunar surface but will circle the Moon and return to Earth.
Orion, built by NASA and Lockheed Martin, is currently the only spacecraft capable of crewed deep-space flight and high-speed return to Earth from lunar vicinity. The mission aims to test Orion’s life-support systems, propulsion, navigation, and communications to confirm readiness for deep-space travel.
NASA said the mission’s operations “will lay the foundation for safe and efficient human exploration of the Moon and Mars.”
Looking ahead, NASA plans the Artemis III mission in 2027 to test rendezvous and docking between Orion and commercial lunar landers from SpaceX (Unlisted (US):SPACEX) and Blue Origin (Unlisted (US):BLUE). Artemis IV, scheduled for early 2028, will send astronauts to the Moon’s South Pole region, advancing plans for a permanent US lunar base.
On the stock market, gains were seen among companies with potential long-term exposure to lunar operations. Intuitive Machines Inc (NASDAQ:LUNR) rose 6.6%, Planet Labs (NYSE:PL) climbed 9%, and Rocket Lab USA Inc (NASDAQ:RKLB) gained 3%, reflecting investor optimism around the broader commercial space sector.
Prime contractors with direct Artemis contracts showed mixed moves: Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:LMT) edged up 0.7%, Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE:NOC, XETRA:NTH) rose 1.5%, while Boeing Co (NYSE:BA, XETRA:BCO) fell 1.5%, illustrating that even companies with established NASA contracts can be influenced by short-term market dynamics. Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc (NYSE:SPCE), focused on space tourism rather than lunar missions, declined 3.1%.
Image credit: NASA/Jessica Meir
