Spire Global wins $28M NOAA contract for weather tech

Spire Global has secured a $28 million, two-year contract from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop hyperspectral microwave sounding technology for weather forecasting. The contract will fund the construction and qualification of a satellite and hyperspectral microwave sounder payload, designed to meet NOAA's weather forecasting requirements.

The system aims to enable analysis of hyperspectral microwave observations on numerical weather prediction and radio frequency interference resilience. This agreement represents a significant step towards demonstrating the feasibility of hyperspectral microwave sounding from a commercially developed satellite platform, with operational capability expected by 2030.

Spire launched its HyMS demonstrator in January to validate the technology in orbit, and earlier this month, NOAA granted the company a $3 million contract extension for further evaluation of data from the demonstrator across various atmospheric conditions and seasonal weather patterns. By integrating this advanced capability into a commercial satellite platform, Spire anticipates delivering rich atmospheric observations at a scale and speed essential for meaningful improvements in forecasting.

Theresa Condor, Spire's Chief Executive Officer, emphasized the potential impact of this technology, stating that it can provide enhanced atmospheric insights at the necessary scale and speed to make a tangible difference in forecasting accuracy. The new agreement further solidifies Spire's collaboration with NOAA, pushing the technology beyond its current on-orbit demonstration stage toward operational weather observations.

Spire Global operates a satellite constellation that leverages radio frequency technology to offer weather intelligence, ship and plane movement tracking, and detection services for spoofing and jamming threats. The company maintains offices in key locations, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, and Germany.