Starlink Surpasses 11,000 Satellites, Sparking a Space-Stock Shuffle
SpaceX’s Starlink milestone coincides with the Space Force funding five U.S.-listed players to prove non-SpaceX SDN interoperability, putting L3Harris (LHX), AST SpaceMobile (ASTS), Rocket Lab (RKLB), Viasat (VSAT), and Iridium Communications (IRDM) in the crosshairs. LHX is highlighted as the prime beneficiary for missile-tracking and space payloads, RKLB stands to gain via vertical integration with Iridium, ASTS and VSAT are positioned on direct-to-device and multi-orbit pivots, and IRDM is set to ride a broader shift toward diversified space infrastructure. The development signals a government-led push to avoid single-vendor dependence in orbit as SpaceX expands its Starlink network.