York Space Systems began trading as a public company on Thursday, with founder and CEO Dirk Wallinger touting the company as a potential major contributor to President Trump’s “Golden Dome” project.
The Denver-based space company opened at $38 on the New York Stock Exchange, up 11.7% from its public offering price of $34. The valuation was $4.75 billion.
“Golden Dome is essentially making disparate systems that weren’t meant to talk to each other talk to each other, and that’s what we’re doing,” Wallinger told CNBC’s Morgan Brennan. “York has already achieved that and we are looking for opportunities to deliver the Golden Dome for our country.”
York already builds low-orbit satellites for the U.S. Space Development Agency, launching 21 as part of a September launch.
Space technology is steadily gaining momentum in 2025 and is expected to make a big leap forward in 2026.
The sector saw several IPOs last year, including: firefly aerospace, voyager technologies and karman holdings.
The industry has also been boosted by President Trump’s renewed interest in improving military technology and returning astronauts to the moon for the first time in more than half a century.
SpaceX’s expected IPO this year is expected to be the largest on record.
Wallinger said SpaceX’s initial public offering would be great for everyone in the space.
“I think the defense technology and space markets are very exciting,” Wallinger said.
York Space Systems has flown 74 missions to space since its founding in 2012. The company is currently working with the U.S. Department of Defense and has a contract with the U.S. Space Development Agency in 2022.
President Trump announced his $175 billion “Golden Dome” missile defense system plan in May. The project could cost up to $831 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
“Historically, people seem to look at us as just a spacecraft maker, but we’re actually a complete, holistic solution,” Wallinger said. “And that kind of turnkey solution is what our national defense really needs.”
