Spire Global Awarded $3 Million NOAA Contract Extension for Hyperspectral Microwave Sounder Data

Key Terms

hyperspectral microwave sounder technical

A hyperspectral microwave sounder is a satellite instrument that reads faint microwave signals from the atmosphere at many closely spaced frequencies to build detailed vertical profiles of temperature, humidity and precipitation. Think of it as a multi-color thermometer that sees through clouds to reveal weather layers; investors care because improved, earlier and more accurate weather and climate data can reduce uncertainty for agriculture, energy, shipping and insurance forecasts, affecting revenues and risk models.

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.

radio occultation technical

Radio occultation is a technique that uses a signal from a satellite or spacecraft as it passes behind Earth to sense how the planet’s atmosphere bends and slows that signal, like watching how a flashlight beam dims and blurs when it shines through fog. The measured changes reveal temperature, humidity and ionospheric conditions with high precision, which investors care about because better weather, climate and positioning data improve forecasting, supply-chain planning, agricultural yields and insurance risk models.

gnss-r technical

GNSS-R is a remote-sensing method that uses existing navigation satellite signals (like GPS) after they bounce off the ground, sea, or ice to measure surface conditions. Think of it like listening for an echo to tell you what the surface is like; for investors it matters because it provides low-cost, frequent environmental and location data that can support agriculture yields, shipping safety, weather models, insurance risk assessments and new data-driven services.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

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 $3 million, six-month contract extension by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to continue evaluating data from Spire's Hyperspectral Microwave Sounder (HyMS). The award includes an additional, unfunded option for three months of data valued at $2 million.

Building on the successful delivery of initial HyMS observations earlier this year, the extension will enable NOAA to further evaluate how hyperspectral microwave sounding data can improve numerical weather prediction. The work will assess sensor performance across a broader range of atmospheric conditions and seasonal weather patterns, while evaluating the impact of the data on forecast accuracy and atmospheric profiling.

Unlike conventional microwave sounders, HyMS captures atmospheric observations across more than 2,000 sensing channels spanning key temperature and water vapor bands. The technology enables high-vertical-resolution atmospheric profiling while offering resilience to radio frequency interference (RFI), including spectrum congestion, jamming and spoofing. These capabilities have the potential to provide weather agencies with more detailed, reliable atmospheric observations to improve forecasting, particularly in regions where traditional observations are limited.

"By bringing hyperspectral microwave sounding to a scalable commercial constellation, we're unlocking a new tier of global weather data," said Theresa Condor, CEO of Spire Global. "We're proud to expand our work with NOAA as we demonstrate how commercial innovation and resilient atmospheric data can power the next era of global weather forecasting."

The HyMS demonstrator mission launched in January 2026, validating next-generation hyperspectral microwave sounding capabilities and marking an important step toward expanding commercial weather sensing. As demand grows for higher-quality atmospheric observations to improve weather prediction and climate resilience, HyMS extends Spire's portfolio of proprietary weather data products available to government and commercial customers worldwide.

"The first phase demonstrated that HyMS can successfully collect high-quality hyperspectral microwave observations from orbit," said Mohammad Belal, Program Director, Microwave Technologies at Spire Global. "This extension allows us to evaluate those observations across a much broader range of atmospheric conditions and seasons, helping us better understand how the data can improve numerical weather prediction and complement existing weather observation systems."

Spire's HyMS observations complement the Company's Radio Occultation (RO) and GNSS-R data, providing a more comprehensive picture of atmospheric temperature and moisture. By combining these complementary sensing techniques, Spire is expanding the breadth of atmospheric intelligence it can provide to weather agencies, supporting more accurate forecasts and strengthening its position as a leading commercial provider of weather data.

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/20260804378641/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.