SAN DIEGO, Feb. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Johnson Fistel, PLLP is investigating potential claims on behalf of investors of Starfighters Space, Inc. (NYSE American: FJET). The investigation focuses on Starfighters’ executive officers and whether investor losses may be recovered under federal securities laws. What if I purchased Starfighters Space securities? If you purchased Starfighters Space securities and suffered losses on your investment, join our investigation now: Click here to join the investigati ...

Group 1 - Intuitive Machines Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR) is recognized as a high-growth industrial stock, with B. Riley reiterating a Buy rating and raising the price target from $20 to $25 [1][2] - The company is expected to benefit from a favorable environment for space and lunar commercialization, capitalizing on increasing lunar activity that will drive demand for communications, navigation, and surface mobility services [2][3] - Intuitive Machines operates a Near Space Network space data relay satellite constellation and lunar terrain vehicles, positioning itself to benefit from SpaceX's focus on lunar city development [3][4] Group 2 - The company completed an $800 million acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems, enhancing its flight-proven manufacturing capabilities for lunar operations [4] - Intuitive Machines is focused on commercializing lunar access through robotic delivery, data transmission, and infrastructure services, and aims to be the first commercial entity to soft-land on the Moon in 2024 [5][8]

Core Insights - Axiom Space is actively competing to replace the International Space Station (ISS), which is set to retire in 2030, with plans to launch its first module in 2028 and a second in 2029 [1][6] Funding and Development - Axiom Space raised $350 million in funding from various private investors, including venture capital firms and the Qatar Investment Authority, to support the construction of its first module, the Payload Power Thermal Module (PPTM), and the development of a habitation module [4][5] - The first module is scheduled to launch in 2028 and will attach to the ISS until the second module launches in 2029, at which point they will form an independent space station [6] Competitive Landscape - Axiom's first module is expected to launch a year after Vast's Haven-1 module in 2027, but Axiom's habitation module may become operational before Vast's station, which is part of a joint venture led by Blue Origin [7][8] - Other competitors include Starlab, which aims to launch its entire station in 2029, and Orbital Reef, which is targeting a launch no earlier than 2030 [8] Market Valuation and IPO Prospects - Axiom's private market valuation has decreased from $2.6 billion in 2023 to $2 billion in 2025, raising concerns about its potential for an initial public offering (IPO) [9]

Performance Overview - Iridium Communications (IRDM) gained 15.85% weekly and 33.31% year-to-date (YTD) 2026, while AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) fell 18.94% weekly but is up 13.60% YTD [1] - Intuitive Machines (LUNR) shares declined by 7.93% weekly and are down 0.62% YTD, and Rocket Lab (RKLB) saw a decrease of 6.75% weekly and 3.33% YTD [1] - The overall trend indicates a rotation from 'risky' assets to safer blue-chip stocks, particularly in healthcare and consumer staples [1] M&A Activity - Intuitive Machines announced an $800 million acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems, expected to close in Q1 2026, positioning the company as a next-generation space prime [1] - The acquisition comes as Intuitive Machines has a backlog of $235.9 million and $622 million in cash, with positive sentiment reflected in Reddit discussions [1] Financing and Index Inclusion - AST SpaceMobile's week was marked by significant financing activity and engagement on social media, despite a 19% decline in shares [1] - The company is set to join the MSCI World Index effective February 27, 2026, which may lead to predictable passive fund buying pressure [1] Operational Highlights - Iridium Communications reaffirmed steady service revenue growth guidance and highlighted strong operational momentum in its IoT business, which differs from many other space stocks [1] - Rocket Lab secured a record number of launch contracts and is advancing its Neutron launch vehicle, with hopes for a first launch by mid-year [1] Market Sentiment and Future Outlook - The upcoming Artemis mission returning to the moon in March is anticipated to generate broader enthusiasm and potentially positive sentiment for space stocks [1]

Core Viewpoint - SpaceX is considering a dual-class share structure for its planned IPO this year, which could value the company at over $1.5 trillion [1]. Group 1: IPO Details - The dual-class share structure would allow for different voting rights, typically granting greater voting power to founders or early investors [1]. - SpaceX is in the process of adding members to its board of directors to oversee the IPO and expand Musk's space ambitions beyond its main rocket and satellite business [1]. - Ongoing deliberations may lead to changes in the details of the IPO [1]. Group 2: Elon Musk's Influence - Elon Musk has indicated that he needs to maintain a significant stake, approximately 25%, to exert sufficient voting influence, although Tesla does not currently have a dual-class voting structure [1].

Group 1 - Elon Musk has been ranked No. 1 on Forbes' 2026 list of America's greatest living innovators, surpassing notable figures like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates [1][2] - Musk is recognized for his role in building or scaling five multibillion-dollar companies across various sectors, including Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, xAI, and The Boring Company [2][3] - Jeff Bezos is ranked No. 2 for his impact on retail and cloud computing, while Bill Gates and George Lucas follow in third and fourth place, respectively [3][4] Group 2 - Musk's current net worth is approximately $684 billion, making him the world's richest person according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index [5] - SpaceX is focusing on establishing a base on the moon as a priority before sending humans to Mars [5] - Blue Origin, led by Jeff Bezos, has paused its space tourism flights to concentrate on developing a lunar lander for NASA [6]

Core Insights - Elon Musk is shifting the focus of his newly merged business empire from Mars colonization to a vision of establishing a lunar base, termed "Moon Base Alpha," to attract talent and capital [1][2] - This new narrative aims to integrate SpaceX's launch capabilities with xAI's computational needs, leveraging lunar resources to drive AI satellite launches into deep space [2][3] Strategic Shift: From Mars to Lunar AI Hub - The new vision was revealed at an all-hands meeting for xAI employees, marking a departure from Musk's previous focus on Mars colonization [3] - Musk's plan includes establishing AI data centers in Earth orbit and utilizing lunar resources to overcome computational bottlenecks [3] - SpaceX has previously retreated from Mars colonization due to high costs and technical challenges, now focusing on more profitable short-term missions [3] Recruitment and Narrative Restructuring - The Mars colonization narrative has been a powerful recruitment tool for SpaceX, but with xAI's integration, a new story is needed to unify rocket manufacturing and AI [4] - Musk's reference to the "Kardashev Scale" provides a theoretical framework for this vision, aiming to reignite engineers' enthusiasm and give xAI a mission beyond traditional software companies [4] Business Logic and Market Response - While the lunar base concept may seem distant, there is a commercial rationale behind it, as demand for data centers on Earth is expected to rise significantly [5] - The acquisition of xAI and the potential construction of data centers in space could be a strategic bet on the future of computational infrastructure [5] - If the narrative resonates with retail investors, it could elevate the valuation of the merged entity, positioning SpaceX as a market hotspot [6]

Join us for LIVE coverage as we track NASA SpaceX Crew 12 on their mission to the International Space Station. #NASA #ISS #Crew12 Join our community Discord! https://discord.com/invite/xCm9UpDPE4 This coverage is made possible by our amazing community! Consider becoming a The Launch Pad Member and go behind the scenes with early video access, behind the scenes live streams and more! SUBSCRIBE to The Launch Pad! https://www.youtube.com/@TheLaunchPad SUBSCRIBE to TLP Space News! https://www.youtube.com/@thela ...

Core Viewpoint - The ongoing rivalry between Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk continues to evolve, particularly in the space exploration sector, with Musk announcing a strategic shift for SpaceX towards lunar development while responding to Bezos' social media post about Blue Origin [1][2][3]. Group 1: Musk's Strategic Shift - SpaceX has changed its primary focus from Mars colonization to building a self-sustaining city on the Moon, which Musk believes can be achieved in less than 10 years [3]. - Musk highlighted that lunar missions can be launched every 10 days with a two-day travel time, allowing for faster iterations compared to Mars missions, which can only occur every 26 months with a six-month travel time [4]. - Despite the shift in focus, Musk stated that Mars colonization will still be pursued starting in five to seven years, but the Moon is now the "overriding priority" for securing the future of civilization [4]. Group 2: Ongoing Rivalry - The rivalry between Bezos and Musk spans multiple sectors, including space exploration, satellite internet, and artificial intelligence, with Blue Origin's TeraWave competing against SpaceX's Starlink [5]. - Musk's recent comments mark a significant change from his earlier position in January 2025, where he referred to the Moon as "a distraction" and emphasized a direct focus on Mars [4].

Group 1 - The potential IPO of SpaceX is a significant financial storyline in 2026, with discussions ongoing between SpaceX and investment banks [1] - A merger between SpaceX and xAI has been announced, valuing the combined entity at $1.25 trillion, which adds intrigue to the potential IPO [2] - The merger is seen as strategically beneficial, aligning with Musk's long-term vision of integrating SpaceX with Tesla, which recently approved a $2 billion investment in xAI [3][4] Group 2 - The technological synergy between xAI and SpaceX is highlighted, as SpaceX's data collection capabilities can enhance AI applications, particularly in autonomous systems and predictive modeling [5][6] - Satellites and rockets are described as distributed processors, facilitating new use cases in AI execution, emphasizing the importance of space in the AI landscape [6] - Alphabet is identified as a top investment pick at the intersection of AI and space exploration, with a significant presence in the space economy alongside its diverse AI ecosystem [7]