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Space: An Industry in Acceleration
Investing in the space economy through an exchange-traded fund
by ProcureAM Research
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The space industry has recently gained a great deal of media attention, and for good reason. Activity has expanded rapidly over the past year, driven by the record-breaking SpaceX* initial public offering1, a wave of space-exploration contracts, and continued mergers and acquisitions. A 2024 World Economic Forum and McKinsey & Company report estimated that the space economy could reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, more than double its 2023 value.2
So how can investors position themselves in the space economy as it accelerates? One approach is a basketed investment vehicle such as the Procure Space ETF® (ticker: UFO), which offers broad exposure across the space sector rather than concentrating in a handful of individual stocks.
In June, NASA reaffirmed its goal of establishing a long-term presence on the Moon and is accelerating that effort. As part of its Moon Base program, NASA announced nearly $600 million in commercial lunar payload awards3:
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Firefly Aerospace* received $144.2 million to deliver its Blue Ghost lander to the Moon. |
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Intuitive Machines* was awarded $148.3 million, and Astrobotic* received $297.9 million to build two additional landers for missions targeted for late 2028. |
NASA also outlined plans to support future Mars exploration. Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines were among seven companies selected for NASA’s Mars surface-mobility (STRIDE) contracts.4
Mergers and acquisitions are reshaping the space industry as companies expand their capabilities to compete. Rocket Lab* agreed to acquire the satellite communications operator Iridium* in a roughly $8 billion deal announced in late June, with the aim of creating a vertically integrated space company.5 In July, Voyager Technologies* completed its acquisition of Astrobotic, which had recently won multiple NASA contracts.6 Several of the companies involved in this consolidation are held by the Procure Space ETF®.
While some space funds concentrate heavily on aerospace and defense, UFO’s exposure spans satellite, communications, launch, and space-application companies. That composition is intended to reflect the breadth of the space economy rather than a single segment. As the first pure-play space ETF, launched in 20197, the Fund draws on years of dedicated focus on the industry.
Selecting individual securities requires time, research, and carries meaningful risk. The Procure Space ETF® is designed to track an index of space-economy companies, giving investors a rules-based way to participate in the sector’s growth. The Fund’s aim is to represent the current and emerging companies shaping the space industry.
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Learn More About the Procure Space ETF®
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Footnotes
1. SpaceX began trading on the Nasdaq (SPCX) on June 12, 2026 in what was widely reported as the largest IPO in history, raising roughly $75 billion at a $135 offer price. NPR/Houston Public Media (June 12, 2026); SmartAsset: SpaceX IPO.
2. World Economic Forum and McKinsey & Company, “Space: The $1.8 Trillion Opportunity for Global Economic Growth” (April 2024). weforum.org
3. NASA, “NASA Awards More Moon Base Science, Previews New Opportunities” (June 30, 2026): Astrobotic $297.9M (two deliveries), Firefly $144.2M, Intuitive Machines $148.3M; missions targeted for late 2028. nasa.gov
4. NASA Science, “NASA Awards Contracts for Mars Advanced Surface Mobility Technology” (STRIDE, July 8, 2026); seven awardees include Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines. science.nasa.gov
5. Iridium Communications, “Rocket Lab to Acquire Iridium” (announced June 29, 2026); approximately $8 billion; transaction subject to closing conditions. investor.iridium.com
6. SpaceNews, “Voyager completes acquisition of Astrobotic” (July 13, 2026). spacenews.com
7. Procure Space ETF fund page; inception April 11, 2019; holdings as of July 21, 2026. procureetfs.com/ufo
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Important Information
*As of July 21, 2026, Astrobotic Technology Inc. was a 0.00% holding, Firefly Aerospace Inc. (FLY) was a 1.79% holding, Intuitive Machines Inc. (LUNR) was a 1.52% holding, Iridium Communications Inc. (IRDM) was a 3.64% holding, Rocket Lab Corp (RKLB) was a 3.69% holding, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SPCX) was a 4.28% holding, and Voyager Technologies Inc. (VOYG) was a 1.09% holding in the Procure Space ETF® (NASDAQ: UFO).
For a complete list of holdings in UFO, visit: https://procureetfs.com/ufo/. Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change at any time and should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
Please consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses carefully before you invest. This and other important information is contained in the Fund’s summary prospectus and prospectus, which can be obtained by visiting procureetfs.com. Read carefully before you invest.
Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. The Fund is also subject to the following risks: Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at market price (not NAV), may trade at a discount or premium to NAV and are not individually redeemed from the funds. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.
Aerospace and defense companies can be significantly affected by government aerospace and defense regulation and spending policies. The exploration of space by private industry and the harvesting of space assets is a business based in future and is witnessing new entrants into the market. Investments in the Fund will be riskier than traditional investments in established industry sectors. The Fund is considered to be concentrated in securities of companies that operate or utilize satellites which are subject to manufacturing delays, launch delays or failures, and operational and environmental risks that could limit their ability to utilize the satellites needed to deliver services to customers. Investing in foreign securities are volatile, harder to price, and less liquid than U.S. securities. Securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies may experience much more price volatility, greater spreads between their bid and ask prices and significantly lower trading volumes than securities issued by large, more established companies. The Fund is not actively managed so it would not take defensive positions in declining markets unless such positions are reflected in the underlying index. Please refer to the summary prospectus for a more detailed explanation of the Funds’ principal risks. It is not possible to invest in an index.
UFO is distributed by Quasar Distributors LLC.
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