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Space-related stocks including AST SpaceMobile and Rocket Lab found a floor after steep July losses, with renewed attention on lunar ambitions. Elon Musk said NASA's vision of a permanent Moon base 'will happen', a comment that buoyed sentiment across the space sector and drew interest from retail traders watching the recovery.

Shares of space-related companies AST SpaceMobile, Rocket Lab, Redwire and EchoStar jumped after SpaceX priced its long-awaited initial public offering, in what is being called a landmark listing for the space industry. Cloudflare's chief executive added to the buzz by endorsing a prediction of a 20% first-day pop for the stock, calling the setup 'perfect' as investors chase exposure to the booming space economy.

Rocket Lab shares rose about 9% in after-hours trading after the company won a $266 million contract from the US Air Force. Retail investors are calling the award a potential catalyst for the broader space sector, arguing it could lift sentiment across space stocks. The win underscores Rocket Lab's growing role in national security launch and space work.

Shares of Rocket Lab rose in overnight trading after Morgan Stanley published a note arguing the company is increasingly resembling SpaceX in its business model and trajectory. The comparison has drawn attention from retail investors and market watchers, with traders discussing the bank's reasoning and what it could mean for Rocket Lab's valuation and prospects.

Space-related stocks are staging a strong rebound in August, with AST SpaceMobile, Rocket Lab and Redwire leading gains that are outpacing Elon Musk's privately held SpaceX. Analysts point to renewed investor appetite for publicly traded space names after a soft stretch, with traders on Stocktwits debating whether the rally in smaller space companies can hold through the rest of the month.

Rocket Lab shares recovered from a six-day losing streak as CEO Peter Beck described SpaceX as a 'friendly rival' and said the company has outlasted more than 100 competitors in the launch industry. The rebound follows a sharp rout in the stock, and Beck's comments on surviving waves of launch startups are drawing attention from investors tracking the competitive space market.

Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile shares climbed in premarket trading ahead of a busy day of space-sector earnings. Retail traders are optimistic, buoyed by SpaceX's recently reported results, which lifted sentiment across the industry. Investors are watching whether the broader space group can sustain momentum following the market's reaction to SpaceX's numbers.

Rocket Lab stock moved higher overnight after an analyst described the company as one of SpaceX's most capable and innovative competitors in the space sector. The endorsement has drawn attention to Rocket Lab's growing role in the commercial space race, with investors watching whether its launch and satellite businesses can keep chipping away at SpaceX's dominance.