Spire Global Will Launch First Commercial Satellite To Monitor Space Objects

Illustration of the Space Situational Awareness service satellite (photo: dock. NorthStar)

JAKARTA Spire Global, a space data and analytics company, will launch four dedicated satellites for Space Situational Awareness (SSA), a commercial service owned by NorthStar Earth and Space.

Through theFour of a Kind mission, Spire will launch the four satellites using Rocket Lab services. It is planned that these four rockets will be launched on Thursday, January 18 from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.

The first commercial SSA launch for NorthStar symbolizes more than just technological achievement. This is a reflection of our dedication to dealing with sustainability in space, said Spire Global CEO Peter Platzer in an official statement.

Platzer added that it strongly supports the satellite tracking and debris program. According to him, space service models such as SSA are able to reduce object buildup barriers in space.

This program can bring solutions to the market to address our biggest challenges on Earth and space. We look forward to the success of this mission and the positive impacts that will result in advancing our understanding of space," Platzer said.

This unnamed satellite will be launched into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO). As the first launch for the SSA service, this satellite is expected to provide accurate information on the space and distance of objects in space.

Initially, the satellite, which Spire operated, was planned to launch in 2023 with Virgin Orbit services. However, this launch schedule has been delayed until early 2024 and the satellite launch company has changed to Rocket Lab.