Canadian Space Agency Assigns Can$72 Million Contract to Spire Global Canada to Design WildFireSat Mission
Spire Global Canada has been awarded a Can$72 million contract by the Government of Canada to design and develop a satellite constellation for monitoring active wildfires across Canada as part of the WildFireSat mission. The company will partner with OroraTech to develop the payloads for the constellation.
Canada currently spends approximately Can$1 billion annually on wildfire fighting, with significant indirect costs from property damage, evacuations, and economic losses. Indigenous communities, representing 5% of Canada's population, account for 42% of wildfire-related evacuations.
The project includes expanding Spire's Canadian office in Cambridge, Ontario, to add satellite manufacturing capabilities. The WildFireSat constellation is scheduled for launch in 2029 and will operate for a minimum of five years under Canadian Space Agency management, focusing on the late afternoon 'peak burn period' to enhance wildfire response and community protection.
Spire Global Canada ha ricevuto un contratto di 72 milioni di dollari canadesi dal Governo del Canada per progettare e sviluppare una costellazione di satelliti per monitorare gli incendi boschivi attivi in tutto il Canada, nell'ambito della missione WildFireSat. L'azienda collaborerà con OroraTech per sviluppare i payload per la costellazione.
Attualmente, il Canada spende circa 1 miliardo di dollari canadesi all'anno per combattere gli incendi, con significativi costi indiretti derivanti dai danni alle proprietà, evacuazioni e perdite economiche. Le comunità indigene, che rappresentano il 5% della popolazione canadese, costituiscono il 42% delle evacuazioni legate agli incendi boschivi.
Il progetto prevede l'espansione dell'ufficio canadese di Spire a Cambridge, Ontario, per aggiungere capacità di produzione di satelliti. La costellazione WildFireSat è programmata per il lancio nel 2029 e opererà per un minimo di cinque anni sotto la gestione dell'Agenzia spaziale canadese, concentrandosi nel pomeriggio tardi durante il 'periodo di maggiore incendio' per migliorare la risposta agli incendi e la protezione delle comunità.
Spire Global Canada ha sido galardonada con un contrato de 72 millones de dólares canadienses por parte del Gobierno de Canadá para diseñar y desarrollar una constelación de satélites para monitorear incendios forestales activos en todo Canadá como parte de la misión WildFireSat. La empresa colaborará con OroraTech para desarrollar las cargas útiles de la constelación.
Actualmente, Canadá gasta aproximadamente 1 mil millones de dólares canadienses anualmente en la lucha contra los incendios forestales, con costos indirectos significativos derivados de daños a la propiedad, evacuaciones y pérdidas económicas. Las comunidades indígenas, que representan el 5% de la población canadiense, representan el 42% de las evacuaciones relacionadas con incendios forestales.
El proyecto incluye la expansión de la oficina canadiense de Spire en Cambridge, Ontario, para agregar capacidades de fabricación de satélites. La constelación WildFireSat está programada para lanzarse en 2029 y funcionará durante un mínimo de cinco años bajo la gestión de la Agencia Espacial Canadiense, enfocándose en la 'hora pico de quema' a fines de la tarde para mejorar la respuesta a incendios y la protección de la comunidad.
스파이어 글로벌 캐나다는 캐나다 정부로부터 7200만 캐나다 달러의 계약을 체결하여 캐나다 전역의 활동 중인 산불 모니터링을 위한 위성 군집을 설계하고 개발하게 되었습니다. 이 프로젝트는 WildFireSat 미션의 일환으로 진행됩니다. 회사는 오로라테크와 협력하여 해당 군집의 탑재체를 개발할 것입니다.
현재 캐나다는 매년 약 10억 캐나다 달러를 산불 진압에 지출하고 있으며, 재산 피해, 대피 및 경제적 손실로 인한 상당한 간접 비용이 발생하고 있습니다. 원주율 공동체가 캐나다 인구의 5%를 차지하지만, 이들은 산불과 관련된 대피의 42%를 차지합니다.
이번 프로젝트에는 온타리오주 캠브리지에 있는 스파이어의 캐나다 사무소를 확장하여 위성 제조 능력을 추가하는 것이 포함됩니다. WildFireSat 군집은 2029년에 발사될 예정이며, 캐나다 우주청의 관리 하에 최소 5년 동안 운영될 계획이며, 산불 대응 및 지역 사회 보호를 증대시키기 위한 늦은 오후 '피크 화재 기간'에 집중할 예정입니다.
Spire Global Canada a reçu un contrat de 72 millions de dollars canadiens du gouvernement canadien pour concevoir et développer une constellation de satellites afin de surveiller les incendies de forêt actifs à travers le Canada dans le cadre de la mission WildFireSat. L’entreprise s'associera à OroraTech pour développer les charges utiles de la constellation.
Actuellement, le Canada dépense environ 1 milliard de dollars canadiens par an pour lutter contre les incendies de forêt, avec des coûts indirects significatifs dus aux dommages matériels, aux évacuations et aux pertes économiques. Les communautés autochtones, représentant 5 % de la population canadienne, représentent 42 % des évacuations liées aux incendies de forêt.
Le projet comprend l'expansion du bureau canadien de Spire à Cambridge, en Ontario, pour ajouter des capacités de fabrication de satellites. La constellation WildFireSat est prévue pour lancement en 2029 et fonctionnera pendant au moins cinq ans sous la gestion de l'Agence spatiale canadienne, en se concentrant sur le 'période de pointe de combustion' en fin d'après-midi afin d'améliorer la réponse aux incendies de forêt et la protection des communautés.
Spire Global Canada wurde vom Kanada Regierung mit einem Vertrag über 72 Millionen kanadische Dollar ausgezeichnet, um eine Satellitenkonstellation zu entwerfen und zu entwickeln, die aktive Waldbrände in Kanada im Rahmen der WildFireSat-Mission überwacht. Das Unternehmen wird mit OroraTech zusammenarbeiten, um die Nutzlasten für die Konstellation zu entwickeln.
Derzeit gibt Kanada jährlich etwa 1 Milliarde kanadische Dollar für die Bekämpfung von Waldbränden aus, mit erheblichen indirekten Kosten durch Sachschäden, Evakuierungen und wirtschaftliche Verluste. Indigene Gemeinschaften, die 5% der kanadischen Bevölkerung ausmachen, stehen für 42% der evakuierten Personen in Waldbrandzusammenhängen.
Das Projekt umfasst die Erweiterung des kanadischen Büros von Spire in Cambridge, Ontario, um die Satellitenherstellungsfähigkeiten zu erweitern. Die WildFireSat-Konstellation ist für die Einführung im 2029 geplant und wird mindestens fünf Jahre unter dem Management der Canadian Space Agency betrieben, wobei der Fokus auf dem späten Nachmittags-'Höhenbrandzeitraum' liegt, um die Reaktion auf Waldbrände und den Schutz der Gemeinschaft zu verbessern.
- Secured major Can$72 million government contract
- Partnership with OroraTech for payload development
- Expansion of manufacturing facilities in Cambridge, Ontario
- Five-year minimum operational contract starting 2029
- None.
Insights
The Can$72 million contract marks a pivotal moment for Spire Global, representing approximately
The contract's structure offers multiple value drivers:
- Immediate revenue recognition from constellation development
- Potential recurring revenue through the 5-year operational period post-2029
- Infrastructure expansion in Cambridge, Ontario, creating manufacturing capabilities for future Canadian contracts
- Partnership with OroraTech, leveraging proven technology already in use by Quebec's wildfire authority
The broader market opportunity is compelling, considering Canada's annual
The domestic manufacturing expansion is particularly strategic, as it aligns with Canada's space sovereignty goals and positions Spire for additional government contracts. The partnership with Indigenous communities through the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation adds a social impact dimension that could strengthen future bid competitiveness.
The WildFireSat mission represents a transformative approach to wildfire risk management, addressing a critical surveillance gap during the peak burn period when fires are most destructive. The economic implications are substantial, considering that indirect costs from wildfires often exceed direct firefighting expenses by several multiples.
The mission's focus on Indigenous communities is particularly significant, addressing a stark disparity where these communities face
From a risk management perspective, the integration of space-based thermal intelligence with existing firefighting infrastructure creates a more robust early warning system. This could lead to:
- Reduced property damage through faster response times
- More efficient resource allocation for firefighting efforts
- Improved public health outcomes through better smoke pathway prediction
- Enhanced protection of critical infrastructure in remote areas
Spire has agreed to develop a satellite constellation to monitor all active wildfires in
OroraTech has agreed to develop the payloads for the satellite constellation
"Detecting wildfires is one of the most impactful satellite capabilities, offering significant benefits for public safety, environmental health and the economy,” said Theresa Condor, CEO of Spire Global. “We’re proud to work with the Government of
Spire has agreed to design and develop the dedicated satellite constellation. OroraTech has agreed to develop the wildfire detection payloads that will be deployed on the satellites, as well as build the data handling and processing system. These payloads have already provided data during Canadian wildfire emergencies, with OroraTech providing detection and management services to Quebec’s wildfire authority, Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU).
To deliver on this contract, Spire intends to expand its existing Canadian office in
“Spire and OroraTech are pleased to support the Government of
Spire and OroraTech have partnered with the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation’s Wakâ Mne – Science and Culture Initiative to enable the participation of Indigenous businesses in the WildFireSat mission, driving direct economic benefits and employment opportunities.
The WildFireSat mission is a joint initiative by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Natural Resources Canada’s Canadian Forest Service (CFS), Canadian Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation (CCMEO) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). This mission aims to deliver data on wildfire behaviour, smoke and air quality, targeting a significant gap in current satellite coverage. By focusing on the late afternoon "peak burn period" when wildfires are most intense, WildFireSat aims to enhance decision-making for wildfire response, reduce losses and protect communities.
The WildFireSat constellation is planned for launch in 2029 and will be operated by the CSA for a minimum of five years.
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 nine offices across the
Forward Looking Statements – Spire Global
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including information about our plan to expand our existing Canadian office in
About OroraTech
OroraTech leverages thermal images from space to detect and manage wildfires across the world. Their Wildfire Solution platform is powered by high-resolution thermal data from its proprietary and public satellite system, which is trusted for revolutionizing wildfire detection. Since 2022, OroraTech has established a comprehensive global satellite network, delivering real-time situational awareness and prompt risk alerts. The cutting-edge system detects fires of any scale, day or night, ensuring timely action. Founded in 2018, OroraTech is headquartered in
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Kristina Spychalski
Head of Communications
Comms@Spire.com
For investors:
Benjamin Hackman
Head of Investor Relations
Benjamin.Hackman@spire.com
Source: Spire Global, Inc.
FAQ
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