SBIR-STTR Award

Spire Global, Inc. operates a constellation of 76 (and growing) commercial weather CubeSats in low-Earth orbit (LEO). Because the primary payload on Spire satellites is a dual-frequency, science-grade GNSS receiver performing radio occultation for atmospheric sounding, the satellite state vectors and precise orbit determination (POD) data are required to be known with high accuracy and precision on the order of 10-30 cm. Spire proposes to use these data to help solve the 21st Space Wing's ground-based space object tracking calibration problem by providing high-precision state vectors from our constellation. Additionally, Spire also proposes using its state vectors to estimate LEO satellite drag and thermospheric density, thereby potentially improving SSA through better LEO orbit drag modeling.

Spire Global, Inc. is offering the Air Force space qualified Cube-Satellite platform that is capable of hosting a large variety of SERB certified payloads. The LEMUR Bus and critical systems components are designed and built in Spire's UK and Colorado facilities to conform to size, weight, power and cooling constraints as described in Spire's interface control document (ICD). LEMUR payload integration and testing will be performed in Colorado. Spire's Phase II Small SBIR submission includes a single RF capable LEMUR satellite, custom payload integration, testing, and provision for 12 months of operations with tasking, ground station, and data processing functions for $1.5M during a 12-month period of performance. This proposal does not include the provisioning of launch services.