⚖️ NASA vs ARKX Comparison · Free & No Signup

NASA vs ARKX: Same Fee, Same Theme, Very Different Portfolios

Both funds charge 0.75% to own the space economy. One follows an index built around companies with real space revenue. The other is ARK picking names it believes will define the category. The overlap is smaller than the shared theme suggests.

🔬 Compare top 10 holdings → 💡 Plain-English verdict

🤝 BFF Take

NASA Is Rules-Based Space Exposure; ARKX Is an ARK Manager Bet

These two funds cost exactly the same, 0.75%, and target the same theme, which makes the structural difference the entire decision. NASA (Destiny Tech100-adjacent space index approach) tracks a rules-based index of roughly 35 companies selected for measurable exposure to space activity: launch, satellites, ground systems, and defense contractors that derive real revenue from orbit. ARKX is an actively managed ARK fund holding about 25 names, and ARK's definition of space is famously broad, historically including companies whose connection to orbit is indirect. NASA has grown far larger, around $2.7B against ARKX at roughly $0.2B, which shows up as tighter spreads. Neither fund is diversified in any meaningful sense; both are concentrated single-theme bets, and the SpaceX listing reshaped what both hold. The choice is between a published rulebook and a manager's judgment at identical cost.

📋 Quick Takeaways

🚀Identical 0.75% fee, so cost cannot break the tie between them the way it usually does

📋NASA follows a published index of roughly 35 space-revenue companies; ARKX is actively selected by ARK from about 25 names

💧NASA is roughly 13 times larger by assets, which means tighter spreads and easier entry and exit

📊 Data-Based Take: NASA has the lower fee

Whether the lower-cost fund suits your situation depends on your existing holdings, account type, tax situation, and how you use each fund. This is a cost comparison, not a personalized recommendation.

Both funds trade commission-free at every major brokerage. How the major brokerages compare →

✓ Reviewed by a CFA® Charterholder · Data as of Aug 1, 2026 · Educational only, not financial advice

NASA

Tema Space Innovators ETF

Expense Ratio

0.75%

1-Year Return

+74.0%

AUM

$2.7B

Holdings

ARKX

ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF

Expense Ratio

0.75%

1-Year Return

+18.8%

AUM

$933.6M

Holdings

📋 NASA vs ARKX — Key Facts Side by Side

Metric	NASA	ARKX
Fund Name	Tema Space Innovators ETF	ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF
Issuer	Texas Capital	ARK Invest
Tracks Index	Rules-based space economy index	Actively managed
Expense Ratio	0.75%	0.75%
Cost per $10K/yr	$75.00	$75.00
AUM	$2.7B	$933.6M
Holdings	35	25
Inception	2024	2021
1-Year Return	+74.00%	+18.79%
3-Year Return	—	+25.79%
5-Year Return	—	+8.33%
Holdings Overlap	See holdings overlap →
Avg Bid-Ask Spread	0.06%	0.15%

Expense ratio, AUM, and returns updated Aug 1, 2026 from ETF BFF database. Returns are annualised. Not investment advice.

📊 NASA vs ARKX — Annualised Returns

Annualised returns (trailing, price-based). Past performance does not guarantee future results.

🎯 Which Fund Fits Which Investor?

Often fits investors who...

NASA

already use Texas Capital and prefer staying within one fund family

Often fits investors who...

ARKX

already use ARK Invest and prefer staying within one fund family

💰 What the Fee Difference Actually Costs

Adjust the numbers for your situation. This models each fund's expense ratio compounding against your balance over time.

Investment amount$ Years held Expected annual return%

Assumes a constant annual return reinvested, with each fund's expense ratio deducted yearly. Illustrative only; actual returns vary. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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❓ NASA vs ARKX — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between NASA and ARKX?

Structure, not cost. Both charge 0.75%. NASA tracks a rules-based index of roughly 35 companies screened for genuine space-related revenue, so its holdings are determined by a published methodology. ARKX is actively managed, holding about 25 names chosen by ARK Invest's research team, and ARK has historically defined the space theme broadly enough to include companies with only indirect exposure to orbit. One is a rulebook, the other is a manager.

Which space ETF is bigger?

NASA, by a wide margin: roughly $2.7B in assets against about $0.2B for ARKX. Size matters here more than it does for a broad-market fund, because thematic ETFs trade less and their bid-ask spreads can be meaningfully wider. The larger fund is generally cheaper to get into and out of, which is a real cost that does not appear in the expense ratio.

Do NASA and ARKX hold the same companies?

They overlap, but less than the shared theme implies. Both hold recognizable launch and satellite names. NASA's index screen requires demonstrable space revenue, which filters out companies with only aspirational exposure. ARKX has historically held names whose connection to space is more thematic than financial. Check current holdings on both fund pages, because thematic portfolios turn over more than broad-market funds.

Is a space ETF a good long-term investment?

Space funds are concentrated single-theme bets, which is a different risk profile from broad-market investing rather than simply a riskier version of it. Roughly 25 to 35 holdings in one industry means company-specific news moves the fund hard, and both funds charge 0.75%, which is around 25 times a broad index fund. The theme has real commercial momentum following recent listings, and it is also priced accordingly. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and this is education rather than a recommendation.

How did the SpaceX listing change these funds?

A publicly traded SpaceX gave every space fund access to the sector's dominant company for the first time, which changed what a space ETF can actually hold. Index-based funds like NASA add it according to their published rules and weighting caps, while an active fund like ARKX can size it by conviction. Because the two funds handle inclusion differently, their exposure to the same company can differ substantially. Confirm current weights with each issuer.

New to ETF investing? See answers to the most common ETF questions →

📄 NASA & ARKX Fact Sheets

NASA Fact Sheet→ ARKX Fact Sheet→

ℹ️ Data shown is for educational purposes and may not reflect the most current figures. Returns are trailing price-based and exclude dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. ETF BFF is not a licensed financial advisor — this is not personalized financial advice.