Spire Global, a global provider of space-based data, analytics, and space services, has successfully launched eleven satellites on the SpaceX Transporter-9 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base. This includes ten satellites for Space Services customers and one for Spire’s own data and analytics solutions.
Among the satellites onboard the launch were three satellites for GHGSat. These satellites are equipped with payloads that can monitor greenhouse gas emissions, including the first commercial CO2 sensor and two sensors dedicated to methane monitoring. This innovation will revolutionize carbon emissions monitoring by enabling frequent, precise, and independent high-resolution CO2 data collection.
Another satellite launched on the mission was Ella 1, designed by hiSky to showcase the capabilities of their Smartellite ground network. This satellite will demonstrate hiSky’s ability to switch between geostationary (GEO) satellites and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, providing low data rate connectivity for IoT and high data rate connectivity for substantial data transfers.
Two satellites were launched for Jacobs, a leader in various industries. Jacobs has developed cost-effective and resilient radio frequency (RF) signal detection and processing systems through their Mango Series Payload (MSP), which is integrated with Spire’s infrastructure. This partnership aims to provide advanced and affordable space radar solutions for various applications.
Spire also launched the Vindlér satellite constellation consisting of four satellites carrying radio frequency (RF) technology for SNC. Vindlér is designed to detect and geolocate specific objects from low Earth orbit (LEO) based on targeted RF emissions. This technology can be utilized to locate emitters of interest worldwide, including dark vessels and GPS jammers, in support of national security efforts.
This launch is a significant milestone for Spire, as it hosts the largest number of Space Services customers on a single mission to date. The company believes that space-based data and insights are essential for addressing the planet’s most pressing issues, and through Spire Space Services, they are working to streamline access to space for any organization.