Quick overview

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The boom in space-related exchange-traded funds is accelerating in 2026, and a new player has quickly become one of Wall Street’s biggest surprises: the NASA ETF, officially known as the Tema ETFs Space Innovators ETF.

Launched in late March, the fund has already attracted roughly $367 million in inflows and surpassed $400 million in total assets in just six weeks, making it one of the most prominent space-themed ETFs on the market.

Investor appetite for the sector has surged this year. There are now ten ETFs focused on the space economy, collectively managing around $2.4 billion, fueled by strong stock performance across the industry and growing capital inflows.

Among the best-known funds are ARK Invest’s ARKX ETF, alongside UFO, ROKT, and newer launches such as ORBX and WARP. However, NASA has managed to stand out for one key reason: it is currently the only space ETF offering direct exposure to SpaceX through a special purpose investment vehicle (SPV).

The space ETF capturing Wall Street’s attention

That SpaceX position accounts for roughly 10% of the portfolio, sitting just behind Rocket Lab, the fund’s largest holding. Exposure to Elon Musk’s company has become the ETF’s biggest selling point, especially amid growing speculation surrounding a future SpaceX IPO that could reportedly value the company near $2 trillion.

Performance has also fueled enthusiasm. Since its launch, the NASA ETF has climbed approximately 37%, significantly outperforming other space-focused funds such as ARKX, UFO, and ROKT.

Still, analysts note that much of the fund’s gains have not come directly from SpaceX exposure, but rather from aggressive positions in publicly traded space companies like Rocket Lab, Intuitive Machines, and Filtronic, all of which have posted strong rallies in recent months.

Space investing moves into the mainstream

Across investor forums and social media, the ETF has sparked growing debate. Some traders see NASA as a simple way to gain exposure to the rapidly expanding space economy and the excitement surrounding SpaceX. Others question whether the fund’s private-market exposure is meaningful enough or whether SpaceX’s implied valuation has become excessive.

Despite those concerns, the trend highlights how aggressively markets are now betting on the future of the space industry. With new ETF launches, rising retail participation, and expectations of a potential SpaceX public offering, space investing has evolved from a niche theme into one of the hottest areas of the ETF market in 2026.