Spire

The increasing space activity has led to a surge in the amount of debris in Earth’s orbit. This debris poses a significant threat to the satellites that power much of modern life and future space exploration. The challenge lies in accurately monitoring and analysing orbiting space debris and junk in real-time, especially the small fragments that can pose a threat to satellites and astronauts. The current methods of monitoring, which include using second-hand sources, computer models, and optical detectors, are limited in their effectiveness and scope. The need for a more efficient and accurate system to track and analyse space debris is evident.

Jacobs, a leading provider of technical, professional, and construction services, was faced with the challenge of testing and demonstrating a new type of commercial space-based Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) onboard a Spire 3U satellite. Traditional methods for testing technologies on-orbit were proving to be expensive and time-consuming. However, on-orbit demonstration was a critical step to prove technology readiness. Jacobs saw an opportunity to reduce risk, maintain control, save time, and decrease costs by hosting its payloads on Spire’s 3U satellite buses. The challenge was to find a low-risk, highly secure, cost-effective and rapid path to orbit.

SpaceChain, a pioneer in exploring the possibilities of blockchain in space, faced a significant challenge. As cryptocurrency became more widely used, the company sought to add an additional layer of security and encryption to the already secure distributed and decentralized infrastructure of blockchain. They were in search of a global solution that could help them scale their application coverage in space. The company needed a partner that could not only take their application to space but also ensure the secure transmission of data. This was crucial as SpaceChain had received funding from the European Space Agency (ESA) to create a satellite-based multisignature wallet for ultra-secure cryptocurrency payments in FinTech and for businesses.

The Australian Office of National Intelligence (ONI) was established in 2018 with the aim of ensuring Australia has an agile, integrated intelligence enterprise to meet evolving security challenges. As part of its commitment to innovation, ONI partnered with Spire to develop and deploy a CubeSat with advanced machine learning capabilities. The challenge was to efficiently understand and process the large influx of data sent to Earth from space. Traditional methods of data processing were proving to be inefficient and resource-intensive, burdening ground stations and other infrastructure. The goal was to develop a system that could autonomously prioritize downloads, direct sensors, and provide actionable insights.

The U.S. Space Force Space System Command (SSC) was facing a significant challenge in their space technology development portfolio. Traditional methods for testing technologies in orbit were proving to be expensive and time-consuming. However, on-orbit demonstration is a critical step in proving technology readiness. The SSC, through their Science and Technology Directorate (SSC/ZAD), was in need of a solution that could provide a low-cost platform for testing technologies in orbit. They required a solution that could rapidly integrate and operate science and technology experiments in space. The specific mission was to test EnerSys® ZeroVolt™ 18650 battery cells in orbit, which required a platform that could accommodate the integration of these battery cells and facilitate their operation in space.

The Company, a US-based IT services firm, relied heavily on cold email outreach as its primary sales channel. Over the years, the company expanded from 2 to 45 mailboxes and ran numerous email campaigns. However, they began to encounter significant issues with their email domain. Their open rate and delivery rate started to plummet rapidly, with most of their emails ending up in spam folders. The company was unsure of the cause of these issues and sought assistance from Folderly, an email marketing solution provider. The challenge was to identify the root cause of the problem, restore the health of the existing domain, and ensure the smooth running of their email campaigns.

Mantle Labs, a pioneering agri-fintech platform, faced a significant challenge in acquiring high-quality weather data from across the globe, including remote locations. The effectiveness of their AI-powered platform, Geobotanics, was limited by the quality of its inputs. They had to engage with multiple data sources that varied in terms of granularity and consistency, which restricted the scope of grid coverage they had access to. There were numerous under-observed territories that lacked the means or the skillset to invest in weather data infrastructure and methodology. As a result, Mantle Labs was unable to fully explore the potential of its digital agricultural solutions on a global scale.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an American scientific and regulatory agency, was tasked with improving weather modeling and computing capabilities as part of its commitment to the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017. The agency recognized the potential of commercially sourced Radio Occultation (RO) data to enhance weather forecasting and understanding of climate change. However, before awarding contracts to commercial aerospace companies, NOAA needed to assess the accuracy, reliability, and overall impact of commercial RO data on weather forecasting applications. A pilot program was initiated for this purpose. The initial assessment found that Spire Global's Level 2 products were mature and stable, with a marked positive impact on the Day 1 forecast.

DeepSea, a leading AI-powered maritime entity, was faced with the challenge of enhancing its vessel-specific performance models with a highly accurate and detailed source of ocean weather data. The goal was to predict the impact of wind, waves, currents, and other nautical phenomena on fuel consumption. However, the task was not without its difficulties. A significant 80% of the world's oceans remain unmapped and unobserved, presenting a considerable gap in the data required for accurate predictions. Additionally, the data on ocean wind and wave conditions that is available is often inconsistent. This is because it is gathered from instruments deployed on buoys and traveling ships, leading to discrepancies in wind-weather observations.

The United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) relies heavily on the World Magnetic Model (WMM) for a variety of essential public and military systems, including mobile navigation applications, surveying tools, antennas, solar panels, and GPS. The WMM is a representation of the Earth’s magnetic field, and its accuracy is crucial for the functioning of these technologies. The data for the WMM was being collected by the European Space Agency Swarm mission, which was launched in 2013 and was expected to conclude in 2021. Given the impending conclusion of the Swarm mission and the critical importance of the WMM, the NGA launched the MagQuest competition to find sustainable, reliable, and accurate data collection alternatives for the future.

The maritime industry faces numerous challenges, including the need for real-time performance analysis and proactive decision support. These challenges are complex and multifaceted, impacting global trade and supply chains. Factors such as weather conditions, fuel economy, travel speed, and route selection can significantly affect vessel performance. The industry needed a solution that could provide maritime customers with an intelligent, quality product, designed specifically for vessel performance optimization. This was easier said than done, considering the number of factors that impact vessel performance.

NASA, the United States’ civil space program, is a global leader in space exploration. It works with U.S. contractors, academics, international and commercial partners to expand knowledge for the benefit of humanity. One of the significant challenges NASA faces is supporting climate research and earth science. In 2017, NASA initiated the Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program with the Private-Sector Small Constellation Satellite Data Product Pilot Project. The program aimed to identify, evaluate, and acquire commercial datasets to support NASA’s Earth science research and application goals. However, the challenge was to establish continuous and repeatable processes to bring on new commercial data vendors, enable the sustained use of purchased data, establish data management systems and processes, and coordinate with other U.S. Government agencies and international partners on the evaluation and scientific use of commercial data.

Orbitare, a company focused on providing global connectivity, was in the process of developing a new satellite-based data transport network, SPACELOOP. This network aimed to deliver IP messaging, email, and file transfer to users anywhere in the world, including remote areas where terrestrial networks are inaccessible. However, the project faced a significant challenge: it lacked an existing infrastructure in space to support the testing and development of the application. The need for a solution was urgent, as instantaneous communication has become a basic need for many, including mariners, polar explorers, journalists, NGO workers, and adventure travelers. These individuals often find themselves in remote areas where connectivity is difficult to obtain.

The increasing risk and intensity of wildfires worldwide, exacerbated by climate change, necessitates a robust and efficient defense strategy. The challenge lies in the need for real-time monitoring and early detection systems that can help authorities shorten wildfire response times, swiftly implement evacuation plans, and provide firefighters with the necessary support. Additionally, these systems would aid the forest sector in identifying future risk areas and proactively patrolling them. However, the rapid response required necessitates data from remote areas, which can only be gathered from space. This is where OroraTech, a satellite wildfire monitoring start-up based in Germany, and Spire, a leading provider of nanosatellites, come into play.

BluePulse, a leading maritime data analytics company, was faced with the challenge of helping reefer container ships save energy costs and reduce carbon emissions. The traditional Great Circle Navigation practice, which involves sailing the shortest distance between two points on the planet, was not always the most energy-efficient. BluePulse needed to test over a thousand shipping paths to identify the most optimal one for reefer energy saving and fuel consumption. To do this, they required global, reliable weather information to add to their digital energy simulation twin.