Key TakeawaysCathie Wood’s ARK Invest purchased approximately 123,000 SpaceX shares valued at $17M across four ETFs on July 15SpaceX shares had declined in seven out of the previous nine trading sessions, hovering near the $135 IPO price pointAn anticipated share unlock event representing 20% of total outstanding shares looms after second-quarter resultsSpaceX plans its 13th Starship test flight Thursday evening with plans to deploy 20 Starlink V3 satellitesARK divested from Deere & Co while reducing holdings in Twist Bioscience and 10X GenomicsCathie Wood’s ARK Invest acquired approximately 123,000 shares of SpaceX valued at roughly $17 million on July 15, 2026. The acquisition was distributed among four exchange-traded funds: ARKK, ARKQ, ARKW, and ARKX.Space Exploration Technologies Corp., SPCXThis purchase occurred during a downturn for SpaceX shares. The stock had experienced losses in seven of the nine trading sessions leading up to Thursday, trading merely 27 cents above its $135 initial public offering price. During premarket hours, the stock temporarily fell beneath that threshold to $134.94.Within ARK’s primary Innovation ETF, SpaceX represents the sixth-largest position, accounting for approximately 4.4% of total assets. Tesla continues to hold the top spot in that portfolio.Factors Behind SpaceX’s Recent DeclineThe stock has faced pressure from two primary sources. The first concern centers on valuation: SpaceX currently trades at roughly 45 times projected 2026 revenue, a multiple that certain market participants consider elevated.The second issue involves an impending share unlock. Approximately 20% of total shares held by initial investors will become tradeable following the company’s Q2 earnings announcement, expected within weeks. This pending supply increase has created hesitation among some investors.Nonetheless, ARK chose to expand rather than reduce its stake. The investment firm has consistently accumulated SpaceX shares during recent trading periods.Thursday Evening Marks Starship Test 13The chronology of ARK’s stock purchase coincides with a significant milestone for SpaceX. The company has scheduled its 13th Starship rocket test flight for Thursday evening at approximately 6:45 p.m. Eastern time.This mission will endeavor to deploy 20 Starlink V3 satellites utilizing Starship’s upper stage. Additionally, the upper stage will attempt to reignite a single Raptor engine while in orbit before descending through the atmosphere for a splashdown in the Indian Ocean.Starship features a design capacity to transport up to 150,000 kilograms to orbit while dramatically reducing costs. In contrast, the reusable Falcon 9 rocket handles approximately 25,000 kilograms at about $1,500 per kilogram. A completely reusable Starship aims to slash that expense by roughly 90%.Starship has not yet achieved operational status. However, a positive test outcome could boost investor confidence surrounding the stock.Regarding portfolio reductions, ARK disposed of 6,833 Deere & Co shares valued at approximately $4 million, extending a trend of decreasing exposure to the agricultural equipment manufacturer. ARK also sold positions in Twist Bioscience and 10X Genomics, while acquiring stakes in Beam Therapeutics and Kratos Defense.SpaceX shares declined approximately 0.2% during Thursday’s premarket trading session.The post ARK Invest Loads Up on SpaceX Shares Before Critical Starship Mission appeared first on Blockonomi.