Spire Global Awarded $28 Million NOAA Contract to Advance Hyperspectral Microwave Sounding Technology

Key Terms

hyperspectral microwave sounding technical

A satellite remote‑sensing technique that measures microwave radiation from the atmosphere in hundreds to thousands of narrow frequency channels to build detailed vertical profiles of temperature, humidity and other atmospheric properties. Like taking a high‑resolution medical scan of the air, it lets scientists distinguish fine layers and gases that coarse sensors miss. Investors care because the data feed weather forecasting, climate monitoring, agriculture, insurance risk models and markets for advanced satellite sensors and analytics.

numerical weather prediction technical

A computer-based method that uses mathematical equations, past and current observations (satellites, weather stations) and physics to simulate the atmosphere and produce weather forecasts. For investors, these forecasts matter because they influence demand, supply and risk across sectors such as agriculture, energy, transportation and insurance—think of it as a detailed road map that helps anticipate disruptions or opportunities caused by upcoming weather.

radio frequency interference technical

Radio frequency interference is unwanted or stray radio signals that disrupt the normal operation of wireless equipment, sensors, or communication links. For investors, it matters because such interference can degrade product performance, trigger regulatory fines or recalls, increase warranty and compliance costs, and affect reliability in industries that rely on clean radio links—similar to static on a phone line that makes conversations or data transfers unreliable.

flight readiness technical

Flight readiness is the assessed state that a vehicle, its payload, and ground systems have completed required inspections, tests, and approvals and are cleared to launch or operate as planned. It matters to investors because a formal ‘ready’ status signals that technical, safety and regulatory checks have been satisfied and the scheduled mission or revenue-generating activity is more likely to proceed on time; think of it like a pre-trip checklist and green light before a long-distance flight.

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Two-year agreement builds on Spire’s on-orbit HyMS capabilities to advance next-generation observations toward operational use

VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Spire Global, Inc. (NYSE: SPIR) (“Spire” or “the Company”), a global provider of satellite data, analytics, and intelligence, has been awarded a two-year, $28 million contract by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to advance hyperspectral microwave sounding technology toward operational use for weather forecasting.

Under the agreement, Spire will use its existing technology stack to build and qualify a matured satellite and hyperspectral microwave sounder payload through flight readiness. The system will be tailored to an orbit designed to support NOAA’s weather forecasting needs and enable analysis of the impact of hyperspectral microwave observations on numerical weather prediction and resilience to radio frequency interference.

The award represents the next step toward demonstrating that advanced hyperspectral microwave sounding can be delivered from a smaller, commercially developed satellite platform, with operational capability targeted to begin no later than 2030.

“Hyperspectral microwave sounding has the potential to change what’s possible in weather forecasting,” said Theresa Condor, Chief Executive Officer at Spire Global. “By bringing this advanced capability to a commercial satellite platform, we can deliver richer observations of the atmosphere at the scale and speed needed to make a meaningful difference in forecasting. We’re proud to continue our work with NOAA, combining their mission expertise with our ability to rapidly develop and deploy new technology. By accelerating the next generation of weather observations, we can give forecasters a clearer picture of what’s happening in the atmosphere, sooner, and greater confidence in predicting what comes next.”

Spire launched its first-of-its-kind HyMS demonstrator in January 2026 to validate hyperspectral microwave sounding in a compact form factor in orbit. Earlier this month, NOAA awarded Spire a $3 million contract extension focused on continued evaluation of data from the existing demonstrator across a broader range of atmospheric conditions and seasonal weather patterns. This new two-year agreement expands that work, advancing the technology beyond on-orbit demonstration and toward the scale required for operational weather observations.

About Spire Global, Inc.

Spire (NYSE: SPIR) is a global provider of space-based data, analytics and space services, offering unique datasets and powerful insights about Earth so that organizations can make decisions with confidence in a rapidly changing world. Spire builds, owns, and operates a fully deployed satellite constellation that observes the Earth in real time using radio frequency technology. The data acquired by Spire’s satellites provides global weather intelligence, ship and plane movements, and spoofing and jamming detection to better predict how their patterns impact economies, global security, business operations and the environment. Spire also offers Space as a Service solutions that empower customers to leverage its established infrastructure to put their business in space. Spire has offices across the U.S., Canada, UK, Luxembourg and Germany. To learn more, visit spire.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260826267726/en/

For Media:
Sarah Freeman
Senior Communications Manager
Sarah.Freeman@spire.com

For Investors:
Benjamin Hackman
Head of Investor Relations
Benjamin.Hackman@spire.com

Source: Spire Global, Inc.