ARK Investment, which now operates the largest actively managed exchange-traded fund, announced recently that it plans to add a fund focused on space exploration to its portfolio of innovative thematic ETFs. The fund's announcement has boosted stocks that are expected to be included, sending names like Virgin Galactic (SPCE  ) and Maxar Technologies (MAXR  ) into double digit gains over the past week.

ETF filings usually don't influence the market like this, but ARK's and founder Cathie Wood's massive success from its leading fund ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK  ) and its other actively managed thematic funds have made this new venture--the firm's first in several years--a hot topic, with the filing boosting the public space industry as investors and analysts speculate who will make up its portfolio.

Named the ARK Space Exploration ETF (ARKX), the fund will include companies that are, "leading, enabling, or benefiting from technology enabled products and/or services that occur beyond the surface of the Earth," according to the company's filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (S.E.C.).

ARK described the space exploration industry as being comprised of four categories: orbital aerospace, suborbital aerospace, enabling technologies and aerospace beneficiary. Here is how ARK explains the categories, according to the filing:

Orbital Aerospace stocks are companies that "launch, make, service, or operate platforms in the orbital space, including satellites and launch vehicles."

Suborbital Aerospace stocks are companies that "launch, make, service, or operate platforms in the suborbital space, including drones, air taxis and electric aviation vehicles."

Enabling Technologies stocks are companies that "create the technologies required for successful value-add aerospace operations, including artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing, materials and energy storage."

Aerospace Beneficiary stocks are companies that "stand to benefit from aerospace activities, including agriculture, internet access, global positioning system (GPS), construction and imaging."

The fund will seek to "provide exposure to companies involved in space-related businesses like reusable rockets, satellites, drones, and other orbital and sub-orbital aircrafts. These innovations should transform telecom, drones, and may even put humans on Mars," the filing added.

ARK intends to invest in both domestic and foreign companies, holding about 40 to 55 stocks in the fund's portfolio. While ARK did not disclose its planned fees for the fund, all of its other ETFs cost 0.75% in expense ratio, meaning $75 per $10,000 invested.

The fund will rival already established ETFs like Procure Space ETF (UFO  ), which is a global aerospace and defense focused fund, and the SPDR S&P Kensho Finial Frontiers ETF (ROKT  ), which is a fund that focused on U.S. companies whose products and services help facilitate deep space and deep sea exploration.