Space and Aerospace Stocks Soar as SpaceX's Orbital Flight Nears

Space and aerospace stocks rose broadly after reports that SpaceX would conduct a test flight to place Starship into Earth's orbit.
According to the Korea Exchange (KRX) on the 17th, Nara Space Technology closed at 13,850 won, up 3,190 won, or 29.92%, from the previous trading day and hitting the upper price limit.
Other space and aerospace-related stocks also advanced, including Sensorview, up 20.69%; Sphere, up 16.71%; KP Aero Industries, up 14.11%; Kencoa Aerospace, up 13.26%; CONTEC, up 9.84%; and Innospace, up 7.13%.
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) related to the space and aerospace industries also climbed. KODEX U.S. Space & Aerospace ETF rose 3.53%, TIGER K-Defense Industry & Space ETF gained 5.53%, PLUS Space & Aerospace ETF advanced 7.90%, SOL U.S. Space & Aerospace TOP 10 ETF rose 3.10%, SOL Space & Aerospace Value Chain ETF climbed 8.47%, and 1Q U.S. Space & Aerospace Tech ETF gained 2.12%.
Expectations have spread across the broader space and aerospace sector as SpaceX's scheduled test flight of the large Starship spacecraft approaches.
SpaceX plans to conduct Starship's 14th test flight on the 22nd, subject to regulatory approval.
During the test launch, SpaceX plans to place Starship into an orbit approximately 275 km above Earth, have it make six orbits, and then splash it down in the Pacific Ocean west of Chile after 10 hours.
Starship will carry 26 new Starlink V3 satellites. If the test proceeds as planned, it will mark the first time Starlink V3 satellites are deployed into Earth's orbit.
Kim Joo-yeon, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, said, "This SpaceX Starship flight is expected to be the first test flight to place the spacecraft into Earth's orbit." Kim added, "As a result, SpaceX rose by around 5%, and related Korean stocks also showed strength."
[email protected] Seo Min-ji Reporter