SAN FRANCISCO -- Arianespace has signed an agreement with Spire Global to carry its SmallSats into orbit aboard a Vega launch vehicle.
Spire plans to build a network of small satellites to provide meteorological data and ocean vessel tracking information. Since its first launch in January 2014, Spire has built 83 satellites. Spire scored a major victory in September 2016 when the NOAA awarded the company a $370,000 contract to provide data under a pilot program to investigate commercial weather data. The results of the deal were mixed. NOAA found that the data was not comprehensive enough to meet its needs and prices were higher than expected. Still, NOAA plans to initiate a second round and admits that Spire has made major improvements to its fleet and processing algorithms since the end of the first round.
As it continues to refine its techniques, Spire continues to raise capital. Luxembourg invested $70 million in November 2017 and the U.K. Space Agency signed a GBP4 million ($5.2 million) to Spire to demonstrate its technology.
Even so, the Vega is in a healthy position in the lightweight launch vehicle market. It will benefit from a strong domestic market due to its association with the European Space Agency. ESA is dedicated to using European-built equipment and continues to launch lightweight scientific satellites, which should ensure steady demand for the Vega . In fact, in April 2017, the European Commission committed to buying two Vega -Cs per year once the launch vehicle becomes operational in 2019.
In addition, engineers are gradually increasing the Vega's capabilities. The P120 rocket motor that will equip the Vega -C will boost power over the current version, enabling the vehicle to carry heavier payloads or more payloads than competitors like Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne. Engineers are also developing a SmallSat deployer that will enable Vega to carry multiple payloads on a single launch, further increasing its appeal to SmallSat operators like Spire.
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