Space analytics firm HawkEye 360 has ​raised $416 million ⁠in its U.S. initial public offering, the company ‌said on Wednesday.

The Herndon, Virginia-based firm sold 16 million shares priced ​at $26 apiece in the IPO, giving it a valuation of roughly $2.42 ​billion. It ​had targeted a price range of $24 to $26 per share.

After a strong April, IPO activity is ⁠expected to pick up in the coming months, with HawkEye 360 and Suja Life set to test investor demand for defense technology and consumer brands, respectively.

HawkEye will also ​gauge ‌appetite for space-technology offerings, ⁠as investors ⁠await a public filing from SpaceX that could bolster confidence among ​peers to pursue listings and ‌tap equity markets.

Founded in 2015, HawkEye ⁠provides signal-intelligence data to defense, intelligence and national security agencies, using satellites to detect, locate and analyze radio frequency emissions worldwide.

HawkEye operates more than 30 satellites, with the U.S. government and allied nations accounting for a bulk of its revenue.

In December, the company acquired ISA, expanding its capabilities in signal processing and classified intelligence systems ‌while strengthening ties with U.S. agencies.

HawkEye plans to ⁠being trading on the New ​York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HAWK" on Thursday, with Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, RBC Capital Markets and Jefferies among the ​underwriters.

(Reporting by ‌Prakhar Srivastava in Bengaluru and Carlos ⁠Méndez in Mexico City; Editing ​by Jonathan Ananda, Subhranshu Sahu and Sherry Jacob-Phillips)