Momentus, AST SpaceMobile Lead The Thaw In Space Stocks

Momentus (MNTS) jumped 9.04% Wednesday after announcing a contract with University of Colorado Boulder for its Vigoride-9 service vehicle. AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) climbed 6.75% following the successful launch of three BlueBird satellites.

The gains mark a rebound for the space sector after a recent selloff triggered by SpaceX's IPO announcement pressured commercial space stocks. Both Momentus and AST SpaceMobile led Wednesday's recovery as investors rotated back into the group.

The University of Colorado Boulder contract adds another customer to Momentus' Vigoride orbital transfer vehicle platform, which provides last-mile satellite delivery and hosting services. AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird launch advances its plans to build the first space-based cellular broadband network accessible by standard smartphones.

The sector-wide selloff earlier this week reflected concerns that a SpaceX public offering would draw capital away from smaller competitors. Wednesday's move suggests traders are differentiating between SpaceX's launch dominance and companies operating in adjacent niches like orbital services and satellite communications.