WASHINGTON, July 8, 2026, 09:01 (EDT)
- Nasdaq hadn’t started regular trading yet. SpaceX was indicated at $149.47 at 08:47 EDT, off 6.8% from its previous close.
- Ex-NASA head Jim Bridenstine said Artemis does not have a working lunar lander yet.
- NASA’s inspector general said costs for the HLS contract are under control, but the schedule for the lander is slipping.
- Blue Origin is said to be raising $10 billion at a pre-money valuation of $130 billion, giving private investors a new mark on the Artemis competitor.
Nasdaq’s main session hadn’t started yet as of 09:01 EDT. Regular trading is set for 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Pre-market runs 4 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET, according to Nasdaq. At 08:47 EDT, Space Exploration Technologies Corp was indicated at $149.47, off $10.91, or 6.8%, from its last close, but still up 10.7% over the $135 IPO price.
The Artemis contract isn’t a huge deal for shareholders, but the proof is. NASA’s inspector general said Starship’s lunar plan needs a low-Earth-orbit depot, over 10 tanker launches, and aims for one tanker launch every six days ahead of the crew. Propellant aggregation starts over 200 days before crew launch, according to the report.
Jim Bridenstine, who used to run NASA and now leads Quantum Space, told Space.com the Artemis lander setup is “extraordinarily complicated” and added: “We still don’t have a lander.” Starlust had a similar message Wednesday, warning NASA doesn’t have a working lander yet for its 2028 moon plan. Space
NASA has changed Artemis III to an Earth-orbit test in 2027, dropping the landing part. The Orion capsule will ride SLS, then dock in orbit with lander test articles from Blue Origin and SpaceX. NASA expects the crew to spend about two days linked with Blue Origin’s lander and about a day on SpaceX’s Starship pathfinder. The agency now plans Artemis IV as the first crewed South Pole landing in 2028. Administrator Jared Isaacman said Artemis III will need “the most awe-inspiring coordination of heavy-lift rocket launches in history.” NASA
NASA’s inspector general called the main risk an execution issue, not federal cost growth. By December 2025, combined contract values for SpaceX and Blue Origin HLS had climbed $266 million. SpaceX’s contract value rose 6%, Blue Origin’s less than 1%. The report also said the Starship HLS slipped by at least two years, Blue Origin’s Artemis V lander by at least eight months. Both projects have ongoing risk tied to cryogenic fluid management.
| Provider and lander | Public status | NASA HLS value used by OIG | Key operational yardstick | Valuation math |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SpaceX Starship HLS | Public, NASDAQ:SPCX | About $4.3 billion | Needs depot and over 10 tankers; one tanker launch each six days; Artemis III set for 2027 | HLS contract is about 0.22% of current market cap, based on $149.47 and 13.08 billion shares |
| Blue Origin Blue Moon | Private | About $3.1 billion | Lander set to fly first for Artemis III; crew to enter during testing | HLS contract is about 2.4% of $130 billion pre-money valuation; planned $10 billion raise would be 7.7% of pre-money |
The table is built from NASA OIG contract values, the Artemis III plan from June, valuation data from Reuters and up-to-date market numbers. All percentage figures use those sources.
The stock can move well past NASA contract news. Reuters said SpaceX priced its $75 billion IPO at $135 a share in June, giving it a $1.77 trillion valuation and reserving 30% of the shares for retail. Adam Sarhan, CEO at 50 Park Investments, said the question is how the market will digest the debut “over the next several weeks, not just one day.” Reuters
Blue Origin is back raising money. Reuters said Wednesday the company is seeking $10 billion in new funds at a $130 billion pre-money valuation. Coatue Management is expected to put in $4 billion, while Jeff Bezos plans to invest $2 billion. Blue Origin didn’t respond to a Reuters request for comment.
ispace Inc (TYO:9348), a Japanese company focused on lunar transport, said it purchased 500 kg of cargo space for $50 million on a planned Starship launch as soon as 2030. CEO Takeshi Hakamada called the deal a way to “exponentially” accelerate ispace’s growth and said, “SpaceX approached us first.” Reuters
| Listed Artemis supplier | First-mention ticker | Artemis role | Investor read-through |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing Co | NYSE:BA | Handles SLS core, upper stages, flight avionics | Tied to SLS schedule and NASA launch funds |
| Lockheed Martin Corp | NYSE:LMT | Orion prime contractor | Exposed to Orion progress, docking, mission pacing |
| Northrop Grumman Corp | NYSE:NOC | SLS solid boosters, Orion abort motors | Tied to SLS output, astronaut safety gear |
| L3Harris Technologies Inc | NYSE:LHX | Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-25s, Orion propulsion parts | Tied to SLS engine builds and flight pace |
Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Aerojet Rocketdyne—now part of L3Harris—are named by NASA as main contractors and key suppliers for Artemis.
The next reviews are coming up soon. NASA OIG says Blue Origin’s key design check could be pushed to July 2026. SpaceX’s Starship looks set for its own review in August 2026, and the uncrewed demo could move back to late 2026, according to the watchdog’s timeline.
