Spire Global Secures $28M NOAA Contract to Develop Hyperspectral Microwave Sounding Tech
Event summary
- Spire Global awarded a two-year, $28 million contract by NOAA to advance hyperspectral microwave sounding technology for weather forecasting.
- The contract aims to build and qualify a satellite and hyperspectral microwave sounder payload for operational use by 2030.
- Spire previously launched a HyMS demonstrator in January 2026 and received a $3 million contract extension from NOAA earlier in August 2026.
- The technology is designed to improve numerical weather prediction and resilience to radio frequency interference.
The big picture
This contract represents a significant step in the commercialization of advanced weather forecasting technology. Spire's ability to deliver hyperspectral microwave sounding from a smaller, commercially developed satellite platform could disrupt traditional weather observation methods. The $28 million deal underscores NOAA's commitment to leveraging private sector innovation for public weather forecasting needs.
What we're watching
- Technology Readiness
- The pace at which Spire can advance its hyperspectral microwave sounding technology from demonstration to operational capability.
- Market Differentiation
- How Spire's commercial satellite platform will differentiate itself in the weather forecasting market.
- Regulatory Compliance
- Whether Spire can meet NOAA's requirements for weather forecasting and resilience to radio frequency interference.
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