Spire Global unveils Glasgow-built 'one-of-a-kind' satellite design

A space services firm that builds satellites in Glasgow has taken the wraps off a new “one-of-a-kind” design with a much greater payload.

Spire Global said its next-generation “satellite bus” was tailored for customers with space missions that require larger payloads and more power, volume and data capabilities. The firm, which operates the world’s largest mult-purpose satellite constellation, designs and builds its satellites entirely in-house at its manufacturing facility in Glasgow. It has built and launched more than 150 satellites.

Exolaunch’s EXOpod Nova deployer, a custom launch deployer developed in partnership with Spire, has enabled the company to optimise the capacity and volume of the satellite while still fitting into standard deployment settings. The design can accommodate payloads of up to 30 kilogrammes.

Joel Spark, co-founder and general manager, space services at Spire, said: ““Increasingly we’re seeing that our customers’ missions require buses that offer the performance of a larger satellite with the agility of a nanosatellite. It’s a tall order, but we’ve leveraged our extensive space heritage and experience in satellite design and manufacturing to build a one-of-a-kind satellite bus that checks all those boxes. Our next-gen satellite has been a natural next step for us, driven by the needs of the market.”

Spire Global said its next-generation 'satellite bus' was tailored for customers with space missions that require larger payloads and more power, volume and data capabilities

Scottish trade and enterprise minister Ivan McKee added: “This is an exciting time for the space sector in Scotland. Businesses such as Spire Global are delivering innovative new satellites, helping to position Scotland as a global leader for commercial space developments gaining a £1 billion share of the global space market.”