Global X is betting investors want more space joy in their portfolios.
The thematic fund provider today announced the Global X Space Tech ETF, a passively managed fund trading under the symbol $ORBX.
The goal is to track companies that earn more than half of their revenue from space tech—everything from transportation, to space software, to satellite-enabled data services. New entrants will be brought in up to four times a year.
Space surge: $ORBX’s launch this quarter is not coincidental, Global X says. They’re trying to capitalize on global interest as a pack of public company wannabes are readying IPOs. (They didn’t name names, but SpaceX’s shadow is definitely in the room.)
“We believe the space economy is positioned for meaningful growth,” said Pedro Palandrani, Global X’s head of product research and development, in a statement. Early revenues will come from reusable rockets, space tech, satcom, and data services, he said.
Looking ahead, potential sectors could include exploration, space transportation, and orbital compute. And while these companies aren’t on public markets yet, Payload has tracked multiple younger startups raising nine-figure rounds—backed by surging demand in sovereign military projects, as well as AI and space-data-center hype.
Lit up: Global X has roughly $90B under management, and a brand built on themed funds. Its debut “Lithium & Battery Tech ETF” ($LIT) celebrated its 15th birthday in December.
The company says its thematic fund portfolio, and focus on “pure-play” space tech, differentiates it in the space ETF market. Examples of other industry ETFs include:
- ARK Space & Defense Innovation (ARKX), including civil and defense tech;
- Defiance Connective Technologies (SIXG), focusing on 5G/6G;
- Procure Space (UFO), which looks to “other-worldly opportunities.”
Rocket Lab Enters the Thruster Market with Gauss
“Early technology development can be done at these small mom and pop shops, but when it really comes prime time to make things at scale, people like ourselves who are procurers of that, if they don’t vertically integrate, they get very nervous,” Rocket Lab CFO Adam Spice told Payload
Voyager Technologies Wins Its First Private ISS Mission
Axiom Space was the only provider for the first five PAMs awarded by NASA, but new players have entered the competition in 2026.
Slingshot Introduces AI-Powered Portal Platform
Slingshot Aerospace introduced a new platform today that will allow operators to spot anomalies—and make decisions—in an AI-powered, one-stop-shop.
ICON Prime Launches, Led By Former TX Rep
Robotic construction company ICON today announced the establishment of ICON Prime, a new business unit that will work with the Pentagon and NASA.
ESA has picked a Kepler Communications-led team to test the agency’s “fiber in the sky” HydRON orbital communications network, the companies announced Tuesday.
Under the contract, Kepler will work with Astrolight, Tesat, Mbryonics, and Vyoma to launch a sat in 2027. The platform will carry the ATLAS-X laser communications terminal from Astrolight, a Lithuanian space startup. The sat will tap into the HydrRON network as if it were a third-party user, testing both the HydRON network and Astrolight’s new optical terminal.
“Working with Kepler on HydRON Element 3 gives us a valuable opportunity to validate ATLAS-X in orbit and bring customers closer to a terminal that supports high-capacity and secure data transmission through next-generation optical communication networks,” Astrolight CEO Laurynas Mačiulis said in the release.
Keep reading