Spire Achieves Two-Way Laser Communication Between Satellites in Space
Spire Global (NYSE: SPIR) has achieved a significant technological breakthrough by successfully establishing a two-way optical link between two satellites in orbit. The satellites, launched in June 2023, are equipped with optical inter-satellite link (OISL) payloads that create lasers to transmit information securely between satellites up to 5,000 kilometers apart.
The OISL technology, developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA) and UK Space Agency, features a miniaturized optical system the size of a tissue box. This advancement promises to enhance data transmission speed, security, and reduce latency for applications including weather forecasting, global communications, and remote sensing.
Following this milestone, Spire plans to launch three additional LEMUR satellites with OISL technology in 2025, with two scheduled for the Transporter-13 rideshare mission via SpaceX. The mission will also include four additional LEMUR satellites to maintain the company's constellation and support Space Services customers.
Spire Global (NYSE: SPIR) ha raggiunto un'importante svolta tecnologica stabilendo con successo un collegamento ottico bidirezionale tra due satelliti in orbita. I satelliti, lanciati a giugno 2023, sono dotati di payloads per collegamenti ottici inter-satellitari (OISL) che creano laser per trasmettere informazioni in modo sicuro tra satelliti distanti fino a 5.000 chilometri.
La tecnologia OISL, sviluppata con il supporto dell'Agenzia Spaziale Europea (ESA) e dell'Agenzia Spaziale del Regno Unito, presenta un sistema ottico miniaturizzato delle dimensioni di una scatola di fazzoletti. Questo progresso promette di migliorare la velocità di trasmissione dei dati, la sicurezza e ridurre la latenza per applicazioni che includono previsioni meteorologiche, comunicazioni globali e telerilevamento.
Dopo questo traguardo, Spire prevede di lanciare tre ulteriori satelliti LEMUR con tecnologia OISL nel 2025, di cui due programmati per la missione di condivisione dei trasporti Transporter-13 tramite SpaceX. La missione includerà anche quattro ulteriori satelliti LEMUR per mantenere la costellazione dell'azienda e supportare i clienti dei Servizi Spaziali.
Spire Global (NYSE: SPIR) ha logrado un avance tecnológico significativo al establecer con éxito un enlace óptico bidireccional entre dos satélites en órbita. Los satélites, lanzados en junio de 2023, están equipados con cargas útiles de enlace óptico inter-satelital (OISL) que crean láseres para transmitir información de manera segura entre satélites a distancias de hasta 5,000 kilómetros.
La tecnología OISL, desarrollada con el apoyo de la Agencia Espacial Europea (ESA) y la Agencia Espacial del Reino Unido, cuenta con un sistema óptico miniaturizado del tamaño de una caja de pañuelos. Este avance promete mejorar la velocidad de transmisión de datos, la seguridad y reducir la latencia para aplicaciones que incluyen pronósticos meteorológicos, comunicaciones globales y teledetección.
Tras este hito, Spire planea lanzar tres satélites LEMUR adicionales con tecnología OISL en 2025, de los cuales dos están programados para la misión de transporte compartido Transporter-13 a través de SpaceX. La misión también incluirá cuatro satélites LEMUR adicionales para mantener la constelación de la empresa y apoyar a los clientes de Servicios Espaciales.
스파이어 글로벌 (NYSE: SPIR)은 궤도에 있는 두 위성 간의 양방향 광 링크를 성공적으로 구축함으로써 중요한 기술적 돌파구를 달성했습니다. 2023년 6월에 발사된 이 위성들은 최대 5,000킬로미터 떨어진 위성 간에 정보를 안전하게 전송하기 위해 레이저를 생성하는 광학 간섭 위성 링크(OISL) 탑재 장비를 갖추고 있습니다.
OISL 기술은 유럽우주국(ESA)과 영국 우주국의 지원으로 개발된 것으로, 티슈 박스 크기의 소형 광학 시스템을 특징으로 합니다. 이 발전은 기상 예보, 글로벌 통신 및 원거리 감지와 같은 응용 프로그램을 위한 데이터 전송 속도, 보안성 향상 및 지연 시간을 줄일 것을 약속합니다.
이 이정표를 기념하여 스파이어는 2025년에 OISL 기술을 갖춘 세 개의 추가 LEMUR 위성을 발사할 계획이며, 그 중 두 개는 SpaceX를 통한 Transporter-13 공동 운송 임무에 예정되어 있습니다. 이 임무에는 회사의 별자리를 유지하고 우주 서비스 고객을 지원하기 위해 네 개의 추가 LEMUR 위성도 포함됩니다.
Spire Global (NYSE: SPIR) a réalisé une avancée technologique significative en établissant avec succès un lien optique bidirectionnel entre deux satellites en orbite. Les satellites, lancés en juin 2023, sont équipés de charges utiles de lien optique inter-satellitaire (OISL) qui créent des lasers pour transmettre des informations de manière sécurisée entre des satellites situés jusqu'à 5 000 kilomètres l'un de l'autre.
La technologie OISL, développée avec le soutien de l'Agence spatiale européenne (ESA) et de l'Agence spatiale britannique, dispose d'un système optique miniaturisé de la taille d'une boîte de mouchoirs. Cette avancée promet d'améliorer la vitesse de transmission des données, la sécurité et de réduire la latence pour des applications telles que les prévisions météorologiques, les communications mondiales et la télédétection.
Suite à cette étape importante, Spire prévoit de lancer trois satellites LEMUR supplémentaires dotés de la technologie OISL en 2025, dont deux sont prévus pour la mission de transport partagé Transporter-13 via SpaceX. La mission comprendra également quatre satellites LEMUR supplémentaires pour maintenir la constellation de l'entreprise et soutenir les clients des services spatiaux.
Spire Global (NYSE: SPIR) hat einen bedeutenden technologischen Durchbruch erzielt, indem erfolgreich eine bidirektionale optische Verbindung zwischen zwei Satelliten in der Umlaufbahn hergestellt wurde. Die im Juni 2023 gestarteten Satelliten sind mit optischen inter-satellitischen Link (OISL) Nutzlasten ausgestattet, die Laser erzeugen, um Informationen sicher zwischen Satelliten zu übertragen, die bis zu 5.000 Kilometer voneinander entfernt sind.
Die OISL-Technologie, die mit Unterstützung der Europäischen Weltraumorganisation (ESA) und der britischen Weltraumbehörde entwickelt wurde, verfügt über ein miniaturisiertes optisches System in der Größe einer Taschentuchbox. Dieser Fortschritt verspricht, die Datenübertragungsgeschwindigkeit, die Sicherheit zu verbessern und die Latenz für Anwendungen wie Wettervorhersagen, globale Kommunikation und Fernerkundung zu reduzieren.
Nach diesem Meilenstein plant Spire, 2025 drei weitere LEMUR-Satelliten mit OISL-Technologie zu starten, von denen zwei für die Transporter-13-Rideshare-Mission über SpaceX vorgesehen sind. Die Mission wird auch vier weitere LEMUR-Satelliten umfassen, um die Konstellation des Unternehmens aufrechtzuerhalten und die Kunden der Raumfahrt-Dienste zu unterstützen.
- First successful two-way optical satellite communication
- Smallest OISL payload in the market
- Enhanced data transmission security and efficiency
- Planned expansion with 7 new satellites in 2025
- None.
Insights
Spire's successful demonstration of two-way laser communication between satellites represents a significant technological breakthrough in the small satellite industry. The ability to establish optical inter-satellite links (OISL) across 5,000 kilometers—roughly the distance from New York to London—requires extraordinary precision in satellite positioning and optical alignment that few organizations have mastered.
What makes this achievement particularly noteworthy is the miniaturization Spire has accomplished. Traditional OISL systems are typically large and power-hungry, making them impractical for small satellite platforms. By reducing the size to a "tissue box" form factor while maintaining performance comparable to much larger systems, Spire has created a potential competitive advantage in the small satellite market.
The technical implications are substantial: higher data transmission rates, enhanced security through difficult-to-intercept laser communications, and reduced latency in data delivery. These improvements directly enhance Spire's core capabilities in weather forecasting, maritime tracking, and environmental monitoring, where real-time data transmission is critical.
The ESA's backing through the ARTES program provides important validation of the technology's viability and Spire's implementation approach. With the planned deployment of additional OISL-equipped satellites in 2025, Spire is moving toward a constellation with enhanced resilience and communication capabilities, potentially creating new service possibilities for customers requiring secure, low-latency data transmissions.
This technical milestone positions Spire to strengthen its value proposition in the space-based data services market. By enhancing data transmission capabilities across its satellite constellation, Spire can potentially improve its service offerings across multiple verticals including maritime, aviation, and weather.
The miniaturized OISL technology creates a potential barrier to entry for competitors, particularly those focusing on small satellite platforms. This differentiation could strengthen Spire's market position in the increasingly competitive small satellite sector and potentially command premium pricing for enhanced service levels.
Investors should note the strategic partnership with ESA, which not only provided development funding but also offers institutional validation of Spire's technological approach. Such partnerships typically reduce R&D costs while opening doors to additional government and commercial contracts in Europe.
The planned launch of additional OISL-equipped satellites in 2025 indicates Spire's commitment to commercializing this technology. The constellation replenishment mentioned in the announcement demonstrates the company's continued investment in maintaining service quality for existing customers while preparing for enhanced capabilities.
While the announcement doesn't include specific revenue projections, the technology could improve Spire's unit economics by enabling more efficient data collection and transmission, potentially reducing the number of ground stations needed while increasing the value of data collected. This technological advancement may help Spire differentiate its Space Services offerings in an increasingly competitive market.
First-ever achievement for Spire enhances data transmission security and efficiency
The Company will launch additional satellites with optical inter-satellite link technology on the Transporter-13 Rideshare Mission
The satellites, which launched in June 2023, are equipped with optical inter-satellite link (OISL) payloads. The payloads create lasers that send information back and forth between satellites, securely and almost instantaneously, while up to 5,000 kilometers apart. This technology has the ability to enhance applications such as weather forecasting, global communications, and remote sensing for navigation and environmental monitoring by increasing data speeds, enhancing security and reducing data latency.
"Precisely pointing two satellites, across distances equivalent of
“We have shrunk what is typically a large optical system—the size of a microwave—down to the size of a tissue box,” added Thomas Carroll, Applied Optics Team Lead at Spire. “Our OISL payload is the smallest on the market, allowing us to deploy this technology on our small satellites while delivering performance previously achievable only with much larger systems. This breakthrough has the potential to enhance our data and Space Services solutions, especially for applications that require continuous coverage with fast and secure data relay.”
The development of the OISL technology was supported by a European Space Agency (ESA) Advanced Research in Telecommunications Services (ARTES) Pioneer Partnership Project, within ESA’s Connectivity and Secure Communications directorate, with funding from the
"Through our ARTES Pioneer Partnership Project, we have supported Spire in the development of a new OISL capability for their space data service network,” said Clive Edwards, ESA Pioneer Implementation Manager. “This OISL system is set to transform satellite communications, offering enhanced security and efficiency for space-based data transmission.”
Following the successful demonstration, Spire will launch three additional LEMUR satellites with OISL technology in 2025, two of which are set to launch via Exolaunch on the Transporter-13 rideshare mission with SpaceX.
During the mission, Spire will also launch four additional LEMUR satellites to replenish its fully deployed constellation and enable missions for its Space Services customers. The launch is scheduled for no earlier than March 2025. For updates on the launch, follow Spire on LinkedIn, X or Bluesky.
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
About ESA's ARTES Partnership Projects programme
The European Space Agency (ESA) is
By closely aligning technological ambition with commercial strategy, ARTES Partnership Projects enable European and Canadian organisations to push the boundaries of satellite communications and strengthen their competitiveness on the global market.
Learn more at connectivity.esa.int/partnership-projects
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including information regarding our plan to launch additional satellites, management's view of Spire’s future expectations, plans and prospects, including our views regarding future execution within our business, and the opportunity we see in our industry, within the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the results of Spire to be materially different than those expressed or implied in such statements. Certain of these risk factors and others are included in documents Spire files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to, Spire’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as well as subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on Spire’s future results. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. Spire cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Finally, Spire expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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