Astrotech shares surge 15.86% after hours as 1st Detect supports $1B DHS aviation security initiative with scalable TRACER 1000 technology.

Astrotech Corporation surged 15.86% in after-hours trading following its announcement of support for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s $1 billion aviation security modernization initiative. The company highlighted its subsidiary 1st Detect’s TRACER 1000 mass spectrometry technology, which is TSA- and ECAC-approved, as a scalable solution to reduce false alarms and enhance screening efficiency. The news underscored Astrotech’s readiness to deploy its systems for federal upgrades, with immediate production capacity at its Austin facility. The timing aligned with the DHS’s Nov. 22 initiative announcement, positioning the firm to capitalize on a major infrastructure investment, thereby driving investor optimism.