ARKX vs NASA

ARKXCARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF

NASACTema Space Innovators ETF

In short

ARKX ARK's only space fund, and one of the rare ones in its niche run by stock pickers instead of an index. Roughly 40 global names spanning rockets, the technology that makes them work, and the companies that quietly cash in.

NASA It landed the ticker every space fund wanted. NASA is a concentrated, roughly 40-stock read on the space economy, from defense systems to space tourism, and it trades like a much older fund.

Stated mandate

ARKX The fund seeks long-term capital growth by actively investing mainly in domestic and foreign equity securities of companies involved in space and defense innovation, including aerospace, enabling technologies, and aerospace beneficiaries.

NASA The Fund seeks long-term growth through investments connected with space-related innovation, including areas such as defense systems and space tourism.

Why people hold it

• ARKX Actively managed rather than index-tracked: ARK's team hand-picks roughly 40 names instead of buying whatever screens as 'space'.ark-funds.com
• The mandate reaches past rocket builders to enabling technologies and aerospace beneficiaries, companies that profit from orbit without ever leaving the ground.
• Global by charter, holding both US and foreign shares, so the theme isn't capped at American launch providers and defense primes.
• Running since 2021 and actively traded at a decent size, which puts it in the upper half of the space-fund group on the practical stuff.

• NASA One ticker, the whole launchpad: about 40 names tied to space innovation, spanning defense systems through space tourism.
• Charges 0.75% a year, right at the median for space ETFs, so the concentrated active approach costs no more than the category norm.
• Very actively traded and already north of a billion in assets, so getting in and out is rarely the hard part.
• Lands in the upper half of its space-fund peer group on our overall read, helped by how cleanly it trades.

Worth knowing

• ARKX The 0.75% fee sits right at the median for space funds and above index-based rivals such as ROKT (0.45%) and ORBX (0.50%).
• Roughly 40 holdings plus a human making the calls means single positions and ARK's stock-picking judgment both carry real weight here.
• The stated goal is long-term capital growth, not income; the fund has not been making regular distributions.

• NASA Cheaper orbits exist: ROKT charges 0.45% and ORBX 0.50%, against 0.75% here.
• A 2026 launch with about 40 holdings in a story-driven sector: thin history to judge, and single names carry real weight.
• Built for long-term growth, not income. It has not paid a distribution.

Full ARKX profile⁠

Full NASA profile⁠