Space stock ETFs are suddenly hot. Only 1 owns SpaceX before the IPO.

The space sector is attracting significant investor interest ahead of SpaceX’s highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO). The Tema Space Innovators ETF, which trades under the ticker NASA, is the only fund with direct pre-IPO access to SpaceX, holding 11.1% of its assets in the company. The fund also includes top holdings like Rocket Lab, Planet Labs, and Firefly Aerospace, and has surged over 25% since its March 31 launch. Yuri Khodjamirian, chief investment officer of Tema ETFs, stated that securing SpaceX exposure before its IPO was a strategic move, comparing its importance to Nvidia in a semiconductor ETF. While NASA is the only pure-play space ETF with SpaceX exposure, other funds are capitalizing on the hype. The Procure Space ETF (ticker: UFO) has risen over 40% this year despite not yet holding SpaceX shares directly. However, UFO has an indirect stake through EchoStar, a satellite company and SpaceX partner. Procure Holdings CEO Andrew Chanin noted that the SpaceX IPO will benefit capital markets and the global space economy, adding that the fund’s index will soon allow day-one access to IPOs like SpaceX’s. Additional space-themed ETFs have also seen strong performance. Cathie Wood’s ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF has gained nearly 20% this year, though it lacks direct SpaceX exposure—though ARK Venture holds a stake. The State Street SPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETF (ticker: ROKT) has climbed almost 35% in 2026, while the Roundhill Space & Technology ETF (ticker: MARS) and Global X Space Tech ETF (ticker: ORBX) have launched recently, gaining over 35% and 10%, respectively. VanEck is preparing to debut its own space ETF, the VanEck Space ETF (ticker: WARP), which will focus on the space economy’s role in global communications and digital infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Defiance Connective Technologies ETF (now ticker: UFOX) has risen nearly 45% this year, holding top space companies like AST SpaceMobile, Rocket Lab, and EchoStar alongside tech giants like Apple and Nvidia. The surge in space ETFs reflects broader investor enthusiasm for the sector, with funds performing strongly even without direct SpaceX exposure. Analysts suggest the IPO will further drive growth in the space economy, positioning these funds for continued gains.