Spire Global Receives DASA Next-Gen Space Tech Funding for RF Signals Detection and Geolocation Project

Rhea-AI Summary

Spire Global, Inc (NYSE: SPIR) has secured significant funding from the UK Government's Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) as part of the Space to Innovate Campaign. This award, the largest for a Scottish innovator, will enhance Spire’s ability to detect and geolocate radio frequency (RF) signals using its low earth orbit nanosatellite constellation. The project aims to support UK defense activities and promote space resilience, with a focus on L-Band SATCOM signals. Spire’s commitment underlines its role in advancing space technology and defense capabilities.

Positive

• Secured significant funding from DASA, the largest for a Scottish innovator.
• Enhances Spire's capabilities in RF signal detection and geolocation.
• Supports UK government defense activities, reinforcing Spire's strategic partnerships.

Negative

• None.

Spire Global, Inc. (NYSE: SPIR) (“the Company” or “Spire”), a leading provider of space-based data, analytics and space services, today announced significant funding awarded by Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), a UK Government-backed program, as part of its Space to Innovate Campaign’s Themed Competition. The award, which represents the largest funding to date awarded to a Scottish innovator, will support the demonstration of radio frequency (RF) signals detection and geolocation from multiple satellites in Spire’s low earth orbit (LEO) nanosatellite constellation.

The RF spectrum is frequently at risk of unauthorized use, interference or manipulation and as a result, the monitoring of RF activity has become increasingly important to government entities. Spire’s capabilities in building and operating LEO multi-payload satellites capable of collecting and analyzing a wide variety of signals can play a crucial role in supporting this monitoring process. The company will demonstrate its ability to geolocate RF signals emitted near the Earth’s surface, focusing on L-Band SATCOM signals, and investigate further geolocation techniques using Spire nanosatellites designed and manufactured in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Space to Innovate Campaign was launched in collaboration with DASA and the Defence Technology Laboratory (Dstl) space program, to promote space resilience and operational effectiveness. The campaign seeks proposals that can maintain the UK’s freedom of action in the space domain by developing future space technologies that enhance and protect space military and civil potential.

The campaign format is unique from other DASA competitions and comprises space-related challenges that will be released in ‘drops’ throughout 2021 and 2022. This approach enables greater variation of contract values and durations to be issued by DASA, which provides larger and longer contracts for more mature technologies, whilst also enabling less mature innovations to be explored.

Theresa Condor, EVP & GM Spire Space Services at Spire Global Inc., said: “It is an honor for us to be selected by DASA for this mission in support of the UK Government and its defense activities and to be recognized as part of Scotland's innovative space technology scene. Using Spire expertise in signal detection and geolocation, the project will take advantage of our capabilities as a space services provider and utilize the expertise and heritage of our low earth orbit nanosatellite constellation, consisting of more than 100 satellites and 17 ground stations globally.”

Debra Carr, Innovation Partner at DASA, said: “I’m thrilled that Spire has been awarded this funding – the largest award we have given to an innovator in Scotland. They are a fantastic company to work with, and their impressive technology that helps us understand the present and potential impact of RF signal detection and geolocation is a great showcase of Scottish contributions to the space domain. This fund decision further reinforces the unique type of technologies that Scotland can offer defense.”

About Spire Global, Inc.

Spire is a leading global provider of space-based data, analytics, and space services, offering access to unique datasets and powerful insights about Earth from the ultimate vantage point so that organizations can make decisions with confidence, accuracy, and speed. Spire uses one of the world’s largest multi-purpose satellite constellations to source hard to acquire, valuable data and enriches it with predictive solutions. Spire then provides this data as a subscription to organizations around the world so they can improve business operations, decrease their environmental footprint, deploy resources for growth and competitive advantage, and mitigate risk. Spire gives commercial and government organizations the competitive advantage they seek to innovate and solve some of the world’s toughest problems with insights from space. Spire has offices in San Francisco, Boulder, Washington DC, Glasgow, Luxembourg, and Singapore. To learn more, visit http://www.spire.com.

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FAQ

What is the significance of the funding awarded to Spire Global?

The funding is significant as it is the largest awarded to a Scottish innovator, enhancing Spire's RF signal detection capabilities.

How will Spire Global use the DASA funding?

Spire Global will use the funding to demonstrate the geolocation of RF signals and investigate further techniques with its nanosatellite constellation.

What types of signals will Spire Global focus on with the new funding?

Spire will focus on detecting L-Band SATCOM signals with its technology as part of the project.

When was the funding for Spire Global announced?

The funding announcement was made on August 19, 2021.

What is Spire Global's role in the Space to Innovate Campaign?

Spire Global's role is to provide innovative solutions in RF signal detection and contribute to the UK's defense capabilities through space technology.