AEVEX Corp, a California-based drone maker, raised $320 million in its IPO, pricing shares at $20 each amid surging defense spending driven by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The offering was multiple times oversubscribed, reflecting strong investor appetite for military technology and unmanned systems. The IPO follows a strong market debut from aerospace parts maker Arxis, which surged 36% on its first day.

Vast and Starlab are competing to replace the aging International Space Station. Vast raised $500 million and plans to launch Haven 1 in 2027 and Haven 2 by 2028, while Starlab touts its larger 400 cubic meter habitat launching via SpaceX Starship by 2029. Congress is pushing NASA to contract with at least two companies for ISS replacement, with the race remaining wide open despite both companies facing execution risks.

SpaceX will charge $90 million for a dedicated Starship launch, according to Voyager Technologies' SEC filing. This price point undercuts competitors while offering significantly greater payload capacity (100-150 tons vs. Falcon 9's 22 tons), positioning SpaceX for increased profitability after its planned IPO at a $1.75 trillion valuation.

Four teams are competing to build private space stations to replace the International Space Station after 2030. Starlab, led by Voyager Technologies, completed its Commercial Critical Design Review with NASA and is transitioning to manufacturing, putting it ahead of Orbital Reef but behind Axiom and Vast in the development race.

Axiom Space secured $350 million in funding to build a private space station to replace the International Space Station after its 2030 retirement. The company plans to launch its first module in 2028 and second habitation module in 2029. Axiom competes with three other teams including Blue Origin's Orbital Reef and Voyager Technologies' Starlab, though its declining valuation raises IPO concerns.

Vast Space is positioning itself as a competitive dark horse in the race to build a private replacement for the International Space Station. The company announced that a team of up to four astronauts will train aboard the ISS in summer 2027 aboard a SpaceX rocket. Vast has already launched its Haven Demo satellite, making it the only operational commercial space station company to fly its own spacecraft. The company aims to launch Haven-1 in 2027 and achieve permanent habitability by 2030, coinciding with the ISS's planned retirement.

Liberty Street Advisors increased its stake in Voyager Technologies (VOYG) by 136,925 shares worth $3.71 million, bringing the company to nearly 30% of the fund's assets. Voyager's stock has risen 12% since its IPO at $31, now trading at $34.58. The investment reflects confidence in Voyager's defense and space technology business, supported by strong Q3 results including 31% growth in its Defense segment, $188.6 million backlog, and $413 million in cash with no debt.

Voyager Technologies announced it has patented a method to manufacture fiber optic cables in space using microgravity to produce ultra-pure crystals for high-performance optical communications. The company plans to send samples to the International Space Station in spring 2026 to validate the method, with commercial manufacturing expected to begin after the Starlab space station launches by 2029. The stock surged 9.41% on the announcement.

Voyager Technologies stock surged 10.56% on January 8, 2026, driven by two positive catalysts: President Trump's announcement of a proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027, and NASA awarding Voyager a HUNCH contract for educational hardware development. As a company deriving over half its revenue from defense contracts with 57% year-to-date growth in that segment, Voyager stands to benefit significantly from increased defense spending.

Voyager Technologies saw stock gains after announcing a joint research agreement with the University of North Dakota and securing a $21 million Air Force contract for developing AI-enhanced intelligence and surveillance systems.

Voyager Technologies received a $21 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop advanced AI-enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems, causing its stock to rise 8%.

NASA plans to terminate the International Space Station in 2030, with four teams competing to build its replacement. The Starlab team, led by Voyager Technologies, is making significant progress by adding strategic partners like Leidos and Janus Henderson Group, positioning itself as a strong contender in the space station development race.