Unlocking the potential of space: Spire's vision and approach after a decade of innovation

By Spire

While private sector rockets make accessing space possible, the capabilities-per-kilogram of satellites has grown tenfold every five years, reducing the cost of building space technology and enabling many new use cases

Simplifying Space for All: Spire's Vision and Approach

Having established itself as a leading player in the space industry over the course of a decade, Spire Global operates a fleet of over 100 satellites that observe the Earth in real time using radio frequency technology to provide global weather intelligence, ship and plane movements, and spoofing and jamming detection. With locations worldwide, including a presence in Australia, Spire-built and operated satellites significantly contribute to the new wave of technology and data analytics that are creating a safer and more sustainable planet for all.

For decades, many space applications were out of reach apart from government bodies. While private sector rockets make accessing space possible, the capabilitiesper-kilogram of satellites has grown tenfold every five years, reducing the cost of building space technology and enabling many new use cases. Just as companies once needed an Internet strategy to succeed, the world is now at the cusp of adopting space-data strategies. Spire believes most of the organisations can define their own space strategy to stay ahead of the curve and aims to simplify the journey to space for players across various business sectors.

Spire's Space Services division offers a comprehensive suite of services, handling every aspect of a mission's lifecycle from design and build to launch and ongoing satellite operations. Spire streamlines space for its customers by offering comprehensive support, including access to infrastructure, expertise, and data services, empowering companies to focus on utilizing space insights to enhance life on Earth. At its core, Spire serves as a passionate advocate for the capability of space to capture essential indicators of our planet, actively observing and monitoring the Earth.

Spire serves a diverse customer base consisting of both commercial and government sectors, demonstrating its adaptability to meet various requirements. An illustration of this is Spire's active engagement in the Australian 'new space' sector, where it explores opportunities and establishes new partnerships. As part of this journey, the Australian Office of National Intelligence (ONI) has partnered with Spire as part of their NICSAT program to develop the Satellite Djara (pronounced Jar-ra) equipped with advanced machine learning (ML) capabilities. Djara was named as a tribute and homage to the Ngunnawal (pronounced nuh-nuh-wol) indigenous Australian people who inhabit the Ngunnawal nation in which the Australian capital Canberra (itself a derivative of the Ngunnawal word for ‘meeting place’ –kamberri) is located. Djara is a Ngunnawal word for ‘stars’.

This mission focuses on conducting experiments with systems that enable the on-orbit collection and analysis of data, including commercially available sensors and technologies such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and ML systems on a chip. The Spire and ONI solution collects and processes data on orbit and then leverages Spire’s cloud infrastructure to downlink, further process, and analyse the data.

Spire is also a proud partner of Myriota, a direct-toorbit (NTN) communications leader for the Internet of Things (IoT), known for its end-to-end security, privacy and power efficiency outperforming alternatives by 10-30 times. In the past financial year, the Myriota Network experienced a 300% surge in IoT devices across four continents. Myriota leverages Spire's proven constellation to deliver reduced latency and increased data, opening up new use cases across diverse sectors such as agriculture, industrial and environmental management. The partnership supports Myriota in its rapid network “scale out” as demand for reliable IoT connectivity takes off.

Through its comprehensive suite of services and a simplified approach to space exploration, Spire is enabling businesses in Australia and beyond to maximize their return on investment by unlocking the full potential of space data.

The Advantages of the Space as a Service Model

The revolutionary approach to accessing and utilising the cosmos is what sets Spire apart. Through its Space as a Service model, Spire has redefined engagement rules, unlocking many benefits for companies venturing into the final frontier.

One of the primary advantages of the model is the simplified access it provides to space. Spire's fully deployed space, web and ground infrastructure allows its clients to focus on their core business objectives while Spire takes care of the intricate operations and logistics required for successful space missions. By streamlining the complexities of space, Spire empowers organisations to navigate their space journey with confidence and efficiency.

Time is of the essence, and Spire Space Services acknowledges this urgency in bringing solutions to market quickly. By partnering with Spire, organizations can expedite their satellite missions and implement spacebased solutions in as quick as weeks to months. Leveraging Spire's streamlined processes and established infrastructure, clients can rapidly launch and expand their satellite constellations with exceptional speed and dependability. This accelerated pace allows them to gain a competitive advantage by reaching their target audience before their competitors have even taken off.

An Efficient Solution

Spire's subscription-based Space Services model eliminates the astronomical costs associated with space ventures, democratizing access to space resources for all businesses. By removing the upfront investment in infrastructure, companies of all sizes can deploy and operate their satellite constellations, payloads, or applications without large financial barriers. Collaborating with Spire unlocks unique intelligence from space, providing clients with reliable infrastructure to deliver according to their mission needs.

Spire’s collaboration with GHGSat, for example, is enabling the company to draw on its extensive resources and experience to support GHGSat's mission of monitoring industrial greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Through this partnership, GHGSat will see the launch of three hosted payloads on Spire's 16U satellite buses later this year, expanding GHGSat's existing fleet of six small satellites. This joint effort strengthens GHGSat's constellation dedicated to high-resolution monitoring of methane and carbon dioxide emissions from carbon-intensive industries worldwide. By accurately detecting emission events and quantifying emissions, GHGSat's data services contribute to local and global efforts in achieving net-zero targets, combating climate change. With Spire Space Services, GHGSat can focus on monitoring while benefiting from Spire's satellite operations and data delivery expertise.

Another company leveraging Spire's innovative Space as a Service model is OroraTech, a global industry leader in space-based thermal intelligence. OroraTech has commissioned Spire to build, launch and operate an eightsatellite constellation dedicated to global temperature monitoring. Once operational, it will represent the first and largest constellation of satellites dedicated to tracking and monitoring wildfires.

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has also awarded a contract jointly to Spire and OroraTech to deliver preparatory work towards a wildfire monitoring satellite, an initial step towards CSA’s planned WildFireSat mission. The mission aims to monitor all active wildfires in Canada from space daily.

From simplifying access to space to accelerating time- to-market, reducing costs, and driving sustainability, Spire Space Services stands as a catalyst for innovation and progress in the space industry.

Spire's Commitment to the Australian Space Ecosystem

Spire recognises the Australian space ecosystem's immense potential. The company is actively working with key stakeholders, including government agencies, research institutions, and industry players, to support and contribute to the growth of Australia's space capabilities.

"At Spire, we are dedicated to simplifying space for all sectors, including governments, new space ventures, and corporate entities. We recognise our clients' diverse needs and ambitions, and our mission is to provide comprehensive solutions that cater to their specific requirements. Whether it's supporting government initiatives, empowering innovative startups in the new space industry, or collaborating with corporate partners, Spire is committed to driving the accessibility and usability of space technology for the benefit of all Spire aims to enhance Australia's space capabilities, drive technological advancements, and contribute to the country's overall space ecosystem." said Jonathon Brain, Regional Space Services Business Development Director APAC, Spire.

Spire's status as an established player in the space industry is evident through its extensive knowledge and experience. The company's successful and userfriendly Space as a Service model has revolutionised how organisations access and utilise space-based resources. The company actively seeks opportunities to collaborate with local partners, invest in infrastructure development, and foster talent and skill development in the Australian space industry. Through these efforts, Spire aims to enhance Australia's space capabilities, drive technological advancements, and contribute to the country's overall space ecosystem.

With a commitment to simplifying space for all, Spire is driving the democratisation of the space industry and enabling businesses to unlock the vast potential of space for their growth and success.