The Space Frontier, NASA ETF, SpaceX IPO, and more…

Hey Five Star Traders,

This past Wednesday, I was on with Charles, and we spent a good chunk of time talking about space stocks — and honestly, it’s still one of my biggest focuses right now. You can catch the full segment posted on my X feed (@traderDanielle). Click on the image to watch!

A lot of these names don’t have the clean fundamentals yet—no massive profits, negative EPS in many cases—but they’ve got something even better: backlogs, contracts, and pole position in the next great investment theme. This is classic ground-floor territory. It’s riskier, yes. 

But it’s also exactly how you catch the rocket ships before they leave the launchpad. And with the highly anticipated SpaceX IPO looming, the entire space sector is in the spotlight. Many of these stocks already carry high short floats and serious short-squeeze potential. The market is starting to price in the explosion of activity that’s coming—satellite constellations, launch cadence, space infrastructure, defense tech, you name it.

ASTS (AST SpaceMobile)

I’m buying ASTS right now. The technical setup is screaming:

• Weekly squeeze firing
• Daily squeeze firing
• Clean breakout above major resistance
• Still elevated short float

This company is building the world’s first space-based cellular broadband network—direct-to-cell satellite service that works with regular smartphones. Think about that for a second: connectivity for billions of people who currently have zero or terrible coverage. They already have a meaningful backlog and are widely seen as the leader in this niche. EPS is still negative, but that’s the nature of frontier tech. I’m not buying the current earnings—I’m buying the future they’re building. 

My upside price target: $150 (we’re trading right around $90 as I write this). Plenty of runway if the thesis plays out.

Additional Space Names on My Radar

BKSY – BlackSky Technology

PL – Planet Labs

FLY Firefly Aerospace

These are all high-conviction space plays with real commercial and government traction. Earth observation, satellite data, and next-gen infrastructure are the through-lines here. Pro Tip: All three of these (plus many more space leaders) are already components of the NASA ETF. So if you want exposure without picking individual names, you can simply buy the ETF and own the whole basket in one ticker.

Why I’m Buying the NASA ETF

I’ve always loved ETFs for this exact reason. When the theme is massive but analyzing 15–20 individual companies gets complex (especially for newer traders), buying the idea itself through a well-constructed ETF is the smarter, cleaner play. 

The NASA ETF is purpose-built for the next generation of winners in the space economy:

• Satellite communications
• Launch services
• Earth observation
• Space infrastructure
• Defense-adjacent space tech

It’s a brand-new fund, but it stands out for one very important reason: it is currently the only ETF with pre-IPO access to SpaceX through a special-purpose vehicle. That alone makes it a must-watch for any serious space investor. Yes, it will be volatile. Space is volatile by nature. But I’m ready for the ride, and I’m putting capital to work here.

Bottom Line

The space race is no longer science fiction—it’s becoming a multi-trillion-dollar investment theme. Whether you go single-name (ASTS is my favorite right now) or grab the diversified NASA ETF, the setup is compelling: massive tailwinds, first-mover advantage, and the biggest catalyst of all (SpaceX IPO) on the horizon.

I’ll keep you posted on my exact entry levels, position sizing, and any updates on the SpaceX IPO timeline in the Mastering the Trade room.

Let’s go to the stars, traders.To the moon (and beyond),

Danielle Shay

Five Star Trader

 P.S. If you’re not already in the live trading room, this is the week to join us. We’re actively managing these space positions together in real time. Eyes on the sky!