Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced today its inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 Index. This milestone places Rocket Lab among the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

Shares of Virgin Galactic (NYSE:SPCE) are down 24% in early Friday trading, while Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB | RKLB Price Prediction) stock is down 8% and AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) stock is trading 10% lower.

Rocket Lab (NasdaqGS:RKLB) is being added to the Nasdaq-100 Index, one of five companies selected for inclusion. The index change marks a new phase of visibility for Rocket Lab within large cap growth and technology focused benchmarks.

Rocket Lab appears to be planning the June 11 launch of its hypersonic HASTE spacecraft on a secretive government mission known as 'Curveball.'

Space stocks are catching a strong bid at midday Thursday, June 11. Virgin Galactic (NYSE:SPCE) stock is leading the pack, up 20% intraday on a fresh liquidity catalyst, while sector peers ride a broader wave of enthusiasm into a highly anticipated SpaceX IPO window.

Check out the companies making the biggest moves before the bell: Adobe — The software giant slipped 6.8% after reporting that its fiscal second-quarter non-GAAP operating margin came in at 44%, below the 44.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB) has just under five years of public trading history. Peter Beck’s small-launch pioneer went public via SPAC merger in August 2021, well short of a full decade. That five-year window happens to capture one of the more dramatic transformations in the aerospace sector.

SpaceX's IPO could provide a boost to competitors like Rocket Lab, Clear Street analyst Greg Pendy believes. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket is completely booked out for the rest of 2026, creating a tight launch market and leaving satellite operators scrambling.