Render of a PlanetiQ satellite capturing data with a Global Navigation Satellite System radio occultation receiver. Credit: PlanetiQ
SAN FRANCISCO – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has awarded contracts to Spire Global and PlanetiQ to provide radio occultation data for terrestrial and space weather forecasts.
The NOAA National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service Commercial Data Program announced the awarded Aug. 13 of $3.7 million to Spire to provide 4,600 daily global navigation satellite system (GNSS) profiles and 1,200 temporal resolution enhancements. Temporal resolution enhancements reveal changes in atmospheric conditions throughout the day.
PlanetiQ won a $2.7 million contract to deliver 4,200 GNSS profiles and 500 total electron content tracks per day. Space weather forecasts ingest total electron content information.
Spire and PlanetiQ will deliver the radio occultation data from Sept. 18 through Dec. 1, 2026.
