Workflow
Space exploration
icon
Search documents
Boeing Stock Set for a Ride as NASA Progresses in Artemis II Program
ZACKS· 2025-07-04 15:00
Core Insights - NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight in its lunar return program, is set to launch in April 2026 and has reached critical milestones, boosting investor interest in Boeing, a key contractor in the Space Launch System (SLS) program [1][5]. Group 1: Artemis II Mission Progress - NASA announced the completion of the Program Specific Engineering Test for the Artemis II core stage on July 2, 2025, and conducted its first mission simulation in early June [2]. - The integration of the Artemis II SLS core stage with its solid rocket boosters was successfully completed in March [2]. - Boeing is the prime contractor for the SLS rocket, responsible for its core stage, upper stage, and avionics systems, and is currently building core stages for all future Artemis missions [3]. Group 2: Financial Implications for Boeing - The Artemis II mission represents a strategic revenue driver for Boeing, with its Defense, Space & Security segment accounting for nearly 36% of total revenues in 2024 [4]. - The ongoing Artemis program implies recurring revenue potential for Boeing, enhancing its positioning in the $500 billion global space economy [5]. - Boeing's sales are projected to grow by 25.6% in 2025 and 16.2% in 2026, indicating strong financial performance [8][16]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Other companies involved in the SLS program, such as Lockheed Martin and L3Harris Technologies, are also expected to benefit from the progress of the Artemis II mission [9]. - Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the Orion spacecraft, which will carry astronauts in the Artemis II mission, having achieved significant milestones in its development [10]. - L3Harris Technologies, through its Aerojet Rocketdyne business unit, provides the RS-25 engines for the SLS core stage, completing the installation of all four engines for the Artemis II mission [11]. Group 4: Market Performance and Valuation - Boeing shares have risen by 22% year to date, in line with the industry's growth of 22.2% [14]. - Boeing is currently trading at a forward 12-month sales multiple of 1.80X, which is approximately 18.9% lower than the industry average of 2.22X [15]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Boeing's sales in 2025 and 2026 indicates year-over-year increases of 25.6% and 16.2%, respectively [16].
Lockheed Martin Expands Mars Ambitions With Next-Gen Mission Design
ZACKS· 2025-07-04 14:06
Core Insights - Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) is recognized for its advanced defense systems and has a strong position in the space industry, being involved in NASA's Mars missions since the beginning [1][8] - The company has proposed a new streamlined approach for NASA's Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, aiming to collect soil samples from Mars and return them to Earth at a cost of under $3 billion, significantly lower than the current projections nearing $7 billion [2][3][8] - The global interest in space is rising, which is expected to bolster the long-term prospects of Lockheed Martin's space business [3] Lockheed Martin's Space Initiatives - Lockheed Martin's updated MSR plan includes a smaller Mars lander, a smaller Mars Ascent Vehicle, and a smaller Earth Return Orbiter, making the mission faster and more affordable [2][8] - The company has built NASA's first Mars lander and has been part of every NASA Mars mission, showcasing its extensive experience in this area [1][8] Industry Prospects - The growth of the global space economy presents significant opportunities for other space stocks, including Boeing and Rocket Lab, which have established themselves in the market [4][5] - Boeing is a prime contractor for major U.S. space missions and is working on returning human launch capabilities to U.S. soil [5] - Rocket Lab has achieved 100% mission success this year with its Electron rocket and is developing the Neutron rocket to support larger payloads, enhancing its competitiveness [6] Financial Performance - Lockheed Martin's shares have gained 0.1% over the past year, compared to the industry's growth of 19% [7] - The company's shares are trading at a relative discount, with a forward 12-month Price/Earnings ratio of 16.21X compared to the industry's average of 26.70X [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LMT's earnings for 2025 and 2026 has decreased over the past 60 days [10]
What If the Key to Saving Earth Is Building on Mars? | Christos Athanasiou | TEDxAtlanta
TEDx Talks· 2025-06-16 16:45
I want you to close your eyes and imagine you're standing on a quiet beach. The waves are touching your feet. Only this time, the beach is gone.The oceans have crept into cities, swallowed islands, and rewritten the map of our world. Rising sea levels fueled by surging temperatures are not a distant threat. They are already here.And as we wrestle with this growing problem, let me ask you, what if the answer isn't only here on Earth. What if our hope, our survival, maybe even the next great story of humans i ...
X @Tesla Owners Silicon Valley
StarBase is one of the most unreal places you’ll ever visit. When you see the size of these starships you’ll get that the future is here. Space exploration will be taken to new heights and getting to Mars is possible https://t.co/7Bh6f0p6Oc ...
X @Tesla Owners Silicon Valley
"This is like an incredible thing to have this amazing city on Mars, the first city on another planet, and a new world.There's a lot of freedom and opportunity on Mars to do a recompile on civilization, which will be up to the Martians."Elon Musk https://t.co/0oWIsnZUBA ...
Rocket Lab's Launch Services Soar as Commercial Demand Rises
ZACKS· 2025-06-06 13:20
Core Insights - Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB) has established itself as a significant player in the launch and space systems market, providing a variety of space systems including satellites and spacecraft platforms, and has a strong position in the small satellite launch market with its Electron rocket, which is the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket [1] Group 1: Company Developments - Rocket Lab has secured a major contract with Japan-based Earth imaging company iQPS for eight dedicated Electron launches, marking one of its largest agreements to date, with six missions planned for 2025 and two for 2026 [2][8] - The upcoming mission on June 10, 2025, will be Rocket Lab's third Electron launch within a span of 24 days, showcasing its increasing launch capacity and reliability in the commercial space sector [2][8] - The company is also developing the Neutron rocket, aimed at larger payloads and constellation deployments, which is expected to enhance its market position and revenue potential [3][8] Group 2: Industry Context - The space launch services market is experiencing growth driven by rapid technological advancements, increasing demand for satellite deployment, and rising investments in space infrastructure [4] - Established players like Boeing and Lockheed Martin are well-positioned to benefit from the growth of the space launch market, with their joint venture, United Launch Alliance (ULA), having successfully launched over 150 rockets since 2006 [5] - ULA's new Vulcan rocket is designed to provide more affordable and accessible space launches for various missions [6] Group 3: Financial Performance - Rocket Lab's shares have seen a significant increase of 495.8% over the past year, compared to the industry's growth of 20.8% [7] - The company's forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio stands at 17.19X, which is considerably higher than the industry's average of 9.45X, indicating that the shares are relatively expensive [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Rocket Lab's losses in 2025 and 2026 has improved over the past 60 days, suggesting a positive outlook [10]
Danish Aerospace Company to build prototype of exercise equipment for the Moon and eventually Mars
Globenewswire· 2025-05-28 17:37
Core Points - Danish Aerospace Company A/S (DAC) has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop a prototype exercise device for the Lunar Gateway space station, which will eventually be used for human missions to Mars [1][3][8] - The Lunar Gateway is a collaborative project involving NASA, ESA, Japan, and Canada, with initial operations expected to begin around 2028 [2] - The contract is valued at approximately EUR 580,000 (DKK 4.3 million) and will last for about six months [7][8] Company Overview - DAC has over three decades of experience supplying exercise and medical monitoring equipment for space missions, including the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS) [3] - The company specializes in advanced medical instrumentation and engineering fields primarily within space applications [9][10] - DAC's products are based on extensive research and development, focusing on reliability in space environments [10][12] Project Details - Amentum Clean Energy will act as a subcontractor, contributing to the development of a vibration damping system to prevent exercise-induced vibrations from affecting the Lunar Gateway [4][5] - The new exercise device will incorporate a jumping exercise to enhance astronauts' bone, muscle, and cardiovascular health during space missions [4][8] - The prototype must meet unique requirements due to the higher background radiation and limited space in the HALO module compared to the ISS [6]
Should You Buy Intuitive Machines While It's Below $12?
The Motley Fool· 2025-05-24 12:08
Core Viewpoint - Intuitive Machines' stock has seen a significant increase despite missing earnings, and it is now considered cheap enough to buy, with a 20% rise since the Q1 earnings report [1]. Financial Performance - In Q1, Intuitive Machines reported a loss of $0.11 per share, an improvement from a loss of $2.68 per share in the same quarter last year [3]. - Sales for Q1 were $62.5 million, down 15% year-over-year, but are projected to rebound by 10% in Q2 [3]. - The company generated positive free cash flow of $13.3 million in Q1, the first occurrence in over two years, although analysts expect cash burn in the next three quarters totaling $15 million [4][5]. Long-term Prospects - Intuitive Machines is becoming a key contractor for NASA, having secured four "IM" missions to the moon, with two completed and two scheduled for 2026 and 2027 [7]. - The company has faced challenges with its landers, but management is addressing these issues for future missions, and NASA is satisfied enough to provide success payments for the IM-2 mission [8]. - Intuitive Machines is also working on a $4.8 billion Near Space Network contract, which is expected to generate approximately $480 million in annual revenue over the next decade [9]. Stock Valuation - The stock price has increased significantly post-earnings, currently around $11, which is nearly double the price paid previously [10]. - Despite being down about 50% from its all-time high in January, the stock is still considered to be at the high end of fair value for an unprofitable space stock, priced at 4.1 times trailing sales [11][12].
How Should an Investor Play LUNR Stock Pre-Q1 Earnings Release?
ZACKS· 2025-05-12 13:51
Core Viewpoint - Intuitive Machines, Inc. (LUNR) is expected to report a decline in first-quarter revenues while showing improvement in its bottom line compared to the previous year, despite recent setbacks in its lunar missions [2][5][6]. Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter revenues is $59.4 million, reflecting an 18.7% decline from the same quarter last year [2]. - The consensus estimate for the bottom line is a loss of $0.10 per share, which is an improvement from a loss of $0.21 per share reported in the prior-year quarter [2]. - The bottom-line estimate has deteriorated from a loss of $0.05 per share in the past 60 days [2]. Earnings Surprise History - LUNR has a mixed earnings surprise history, outperforming the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three out of the last four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 69.92% [2][3]. Recent Developments - The company has experienced a setback with its second lunar mission, IM-2, which tipped over upon landing, likely impacting first-quarter results negatively [6]. - Increased selling, general, and administrative expenses due to public company costs and employee benefits are expected to negatively affect earnings performance [7]. - A recent contract awarded by NASA for lunar logistics is anticipated to boost the company's order book and backlog count [8]. Stock Performance - LUNR's shares have increased by 52.3% over the past year, outperforming the Zacks Aerospace-Defense industry's growth of 7.3% and the broader sector's growth of 11.8% [9]. - The stock's forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is 5.24X, significantly higher than the industry average of 2.02X, indicating a premium valuation [11]. Industry Context - The market for space exploration is experiencing solid growth, driven by investments from private companies and governments, which is beneficial for companies like LUNR [15]. - LUNR is developing its largest lander, Nova-M, which is expected to generate substantial revenues upon launch [15]. Investment Considerations - Despite the company's strong stock performance, there are concerns regarding its ability to meet earnings expectations for the first quarter, given the unfavorable earnings ESP and recent downward revisions in estimates [17].