Key Highlights

● Viasat soared in morning trading on November 9.

● No company-specific news was found.

● Space and satellite stocks rallied on NASA Moon Base awards.

● AST SpaceMobile's Rakuten venture also lifted the group.

Liftoff for the space trade

Viasat (NASDAQ:VSAT) soared on Monday, November 9, 2026, rising sharply in morning trading, according to a 10:36 a.m. movers reading.

No company-specific news was found to explain the rally. Instead, Viasat moved with a broad surge in space and satellite stocks, which were energized by two pieces of industry news: NASA's Moon Base awards and a joint venture between AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) and Rakuten in Japan.

NASA's Moon Base contracts

NASA named eight companies as winners of Moon Base, or lunar delivery framework, awards worth up to $10 billion in total, according to market coverage's live blog. Winners included Firefly Aerospace (NASDAQ:FLY), Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ:LUNR), Voyager Technologies (NYSE:VOYG) and SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX). Viasat was not among the named winners.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman captured the agency's ambition: "We are building the Moon Base mission by mission," he said, according to market reports.

Firefly, Intuitive Machines and SpaceX all climbed on the news, and the enthusiasm spilled over into the wider sector. Planet Labs (NYSE:PL) and Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB) also rallied, even though neither was among the eight winners.

AST SpaceMobile's Japanese venture

The other spark came from AST SpaceMobile, which agreed with Rakuten to form a joint venture in Japan to build a direct-to-device satellite network, according to market data. The venture, controlled by Rakuten, is eligible for up to roughly $1 billion in Japanese government funding. AST SpaceMobile's shares jumped to a $36.89 close.

Deals like that reinforce investor interest in satellite connectivity, which is Viasat's core business. Direct-to-device networks aim to connect ordinary smartphones straight to satellites, and the prospect of government-backed funding in Japan added to the sense that space-based communications are drawing serious money.

What Viasat does

Viasat is a satellite communications company. It provides broadband internet via satellite, in-flight connectivity for airlines and secure communications for government and defense customers. Because its Business sits squarely in satellite services, the stock often trades alongside peers when sentiment toward the space economy shifts.

A sector-wide rally can lift stocks that have no direct link to the news that started it, as investors buy the theme rather than individual stories.

A market-wide rebound

The broader market supplied plenty of fuel. The Nasdaq Composite surged 673.71 points to 25,253.14, its best day since July 30, while the S&P 500 climbed 173.08 points to 7,549.94. Industrials were the best-performing sector, according to news reports, and every S&P 500 sector finished higher. Oil slid on hopes for a US-Iran peace deal, and a sharp rebound in chip stocks lifted technology. The Russell 2000 rallied 86.71 points to 2,840.81, a sign of strong appetite for smaller, riskier names.

Space Rally Meets Macro Data

With no Viasat-specific catalyst, the stock's next moves may depend on whether enthusiasm for space stocks holds. Investors will watch for more details on NASA's Moon Base program, including how the up to $10 billion is divided, and on AST SpaceMobile's Rakuten venture.

Rocket Lab's and AST SpaceMobile's quarterly results, released after the bell on Monday, could also shape sector sentiment. Any Viasat announcements on contracts, satellite launches or its own Earnings would be the next company-specific catalyst. On the macro side, Tuesday's October Consumer Price Index is the last Inflation report before the Federal Reserve's December 8-9 meeting.