Redwire Corp. (NYSE:RDW), Rocket Lab Corp. (NASDAQ:RKLB) and Firefly Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:FLY) have won spots on a Space Force contract vehicle worth up to $981 million. The award puts three of the most heavily traded space stocks in line for military test and training work through 2036.
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Space Systems Command named 15 vendors to its NITE-STAR multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, according to a July 31 release from the command. The ceiling covers two five-year ordering periods.
The goal is to build test and training tools that prepare Guardians “for engagements against peer adversaries.”
A Crowded Roster
Large defense contractors make up much of the list. Units of Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT), Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA), Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:NOC) and L3Harris Technologies Inc. (NYSE:LHX) were all selected, along with the privately held Sierra Space and seven other firms.
All 15 compete under the same $981 million ceiling. Money flows only when the Space Force issues individual task orders, and nothing guarantees an even split.
“This effort sets the foundation for rapidly advancing and integrating the test and training tools needed to effectively train Space Force Guardians,” said Col. Craig Hackbarth, a program director at Space Systems Command.
The vehicle will be open to the command’s entire test and training enterprise.
Redwire Speaks Up
Redwire announced its selection Thursday, almost two months after the government named the vendor pool. Its subsidiary, Redwire Space Missions LLC, holds the award.
“Selection for NITE-STAR underscores Redwire’s role as a trusted provider of mission-critical spacecraft systems and digital engineering solutions,” said Mike Gold, president of Redwire Space.
The company was blunt about the economics. “There is no guaranteed revenue with the award of the NITE-STAR IDIQ contract,” Redwire said.
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The Post-SpaceX Hangover
All three smaller space stocks peaked in late May as investors bet on SpaceX’s market debut. The rally broke on June 12, the day SpaceX started trading.
Firefly sank more than 18% that day, and Rocket Lab and Redwire each fell at least 10%, according to Benzinga Pro market data.
Redwire closed Wednesday at $11.27. The stock is still up 48.3% for 2026. It has also fallen 56.5% from its May 28 close of $25.90.
Rocket Lab finished at $70.31, up only 0.8% for the year and 53.2% below its late-May peak. In August, the company pushed back the timeline for the first flight of its Neutron rocket.
Firefly has taken the biggest hit. It closed at $21.90 on Wednesday, down 2.1% for 2026 and 62.8% below its May high.
What Traders Should Watch
The real test for these three companies is task orders. The larger defense contractors have deep Pentagon relationships and bigger balance sheets. Redwire, Rocket Lab and Firefly are betting on speed and specialized spacecraft hardware.
A 10-year vehicle offers visibility. The payoff will come one order at a time.
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