Podcast Summary: The Rundown

Episode: Deep Dive: Why Artemis II Matters for Investors

Host: Zaid Admani (Public.com)
Date: April 11, 2026
Duration: ~10 minutes

Episode Overview

This weekend's deep dive explores the significance of NASA's Artemis II mission—not just as a historic space event, but as a catalyst for the booming space economy and a new wave of investment opportunities. Host Zaid Admani discusses why Artemis II is drawing Wall Street’s attention, breaks down the current state and future potential of the space sector, highlights key companies, and examines the hype around the upcoming SpaceX IPO.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Artemis II: A Historic Mission with Modern Implications

• Background:
  • First crewed lunar orbit since 1972 ([00:21]).
  • Artemis program initiated by NASA in 2017 for scientific discovery and economic opportunities.
  • “The crew included NASA astronauts Reed Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.” ([01:15])
  • Record-breaking achievement: Orion spacecraft traveled farther from Earth than any humans before, surpassing Apollo 13 ([01:44]).
  • Mission success marked by splashdown on April 10 ([02:01]).
• Purpose: Flyby, not a landing—mission data will prepare NASA to return humans to the moon in 2028 (Artemis IV).

2. The Booming Space Economy

• Space in Everyday Life:
  • “Every time you open up Google Maps or order Uber or check the weather or even swipe your credit card, you're using space technology...” ([02:39])
• Market Size:
  • 2025 global space economy valued at $613 billion; 400,000 space-related jobs ([03:10]).
  • Projection: $1.8 trillion by 2035, nearly 3x growth ([03:28]).
• Driving Factors:
  • Dramatic drop in launch costs:
    • From $15,000/kg in 2008 to under $1,000/kg in 2025; Starship could bring this close to $100/kg ([03:50]).
  • Lower costs mean more commercial participation, likened to the early days of the internet ([04:44]).
• Government’s Role:
  • Key customer and driver for high-end systems, exploration, and lunar infrastructure ([05:10]).

3. Space Stocks to Watch

a. Planet Labs

• Satellite imaging, real-time Earth monitoring (down to 15cm resolution) ([05:46]).
• Clients: defense, intelligence, agriculture, finance.
• 2025 revenue: $244M; backlog: $900M ([06:30]).
• Stock up nearly 70% this year.

b. Intuitive Machines

• First private company to land and operate on the Moon (2024).
• Focus: lunar exploration/infrastructure, lunar communication satellites ([07:02]).
• Stock up 30% YTD, 17% since Artemis II launch.

c. Firefly Aerospace

• Lunar lander (Blue Ghost); won NASA contract ([07:40]).
• Also builds Alpha (small) and Eclipse (medium) rockets.
• Stock up 58% YTD, 25% since Artemis II.

“I want to be clear, like these stocks are speculative. You know, these are small pre profit companies in an emerging industry. And as with every industry, there are going to be some winners and many, many losers.” ([08:13])

4. The SpaceX IPO: Anticipating the Biggest Public Debut

• Major Event: SpaceX confidentially filed for IPO on same day as Artemis II launch (April 1).
• Hype:
  • Aims to raise $75B, seeking $1.75T valuation ([08:32]).
  • “This would make SpaceX the largest IPO in history.” ([08:37])
  • Potential to out-value Tesla.
• Financial Curiosity: No numbers yet, as filing is confidential ([09:05]).
• Ecosystem Impact: Hype inflating other space stocks.
• Note: SpaceX not involved in Artemis II—main contributors were Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, but their stocks remained flat.

Quote:

• “Wall street seems to be more enthusiastic about the up and coming disruptors and not the incumbents.” ([09:36])

5. Host’s Candid Take: “Space is Cool,” but Beware Hype

• Personal excitement about space exploration and future moon landings ([09:46]).
• Caution for Investors:
  • “A lot of these space stocks are still very speculative and pre profit. I mean, even the SpaceX IPO at a $1.75 trillion valuation seems frothy to me.” ([10:00])
  • Waiting for hype to cool before buying in.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Artemis II's reach:
  “The Orion spacecraft carrying the crew went more than a quarter million miles away from Earth, officially breaking the record for the farthest humans have traveled from Earth, last set by Apollo 13 back in 1970.” ([01:41])

• On the pervasiveness of space tech:
  “This stuff powers so much of modern life that we don't even think about it anymore.” ([02:50])

• On accessible space innovation:
  “This is kind of what happened with the Internet. When bandwidth was expensive, only big corporations could afford it. But when it got cheaper, more and more people came online… Space could follow a similar trajectory.” ([04:44])

• On speculative nature of space stocks:
  “And as with every industry, there are going to be some winners and many, many losers.” ([08:13])

• On investor caution:
  “The trend is undeniable that space is the next frontier in area of growth. But personally I’m just waiting for some of the hype to cool off.” ([10:05])

Key Timestamps

• [00:21] Artemis II background and astronaut crew
• [01:41] Record-setting lunar orbit by Orion spacecraft
• [02:39] Everyday reliance on space tech
• [03:10] Space economy stats and trajectory
• [03:50] The falling cost of space launches
• [05:46] Spotlight on Planet Labs
• [07:02] Intuitive Machines moon landing accomplishment
• [07:40] Firefly Aerospace contracts and rockets
• [08:32] SpaceX files for IPO; possible $1.75T valuation
• [09:36] Disruptors vs. incumbents in Wall Street sentiment
• [09:46] Host’s enthusiasm for new space ventures
• [10:00] Skepticism and caution about speculative space stocks

Conclusion

The Artemis II mission renews interest in space for both enthusiasts and investors, signaling a new era as costs plummet and commercial opportunities surge. However, most space stocks remain speculative, with the upcoming SpaceX IPO commanding headlines and investor attention. The host urges caution, suggesting a wait-and-see approach amid the hype.

“Space is cool and I’m glad that we’re doing cool space stuff again.” ([09:46])

For comments or to share your own thoughts on the SpaceX IPO and space investing, join the discussion on Spotify and YouTube.