BlackRock has launched the iShares Space Technologies UCITS ETF, trading under the ticker STAR, giving UK and European investors listed exposure to companies in the space economy. The fund tracks the STOXX Global Space Satellites and Drones Index, covering rocket manufacturers, satellite operators, drone producers and their supply chain firms.
IPO Fast-Entry Rule Sets STAR Apart from Traditional Index Funds
STAR includes a fast-entry rule that allows newly listed companies meeting index requirements to be added within 10 to 30 days after their market debut. This feature differs from traditional index funds, which typically wait for scheduled rebalances. BlackRock linked the rule to rising market attention around new public listings in space technology — earlier reports from crypto.news highlighted growing interest in a potential SpaceX IPO.
Current Holdings and European Markets
Current STAR holdings include Rocket Lab, AST SpaceMobile, Planet Labs, Viasat, Intuitive Machines, Redwire, Globalstar, EchoStar, Iridium Communications, and Firefly Aerospace. The fund trades across the UK and 12 European markets, including Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and Sweden, with a total expense ratio of 0.50%.
Omar Moufti, BlackRock’s thematics and sectors product strategist, cited lower launch costs and rising satellite adoption as key drivers making the space economy an important long-term investment theme. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, space ETFs have drawn roughly $8 billion in inflows year-to-date, surpassing defense ETFs during the same period. Other space-focused funds have also performed well: the Procure Space ETF gained more than 109% over the past year. BlackRock also runs the iShares US Aerospace & Defense ETF and the iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF.
STAR launched on June 9, 2026, and now trades across all listed markets.