The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will extend its evaluation of Spire Global’s Hyperspectral Microwave Sounder (HyMS) data under a $3 million, six‑month contract announced Aug. 4. Under the extension, NOAA will assess how the hyperspectral microwave sounding data can improve numerical weather prediction by testing sensor performance across a broader range of atmospheric conditions and seasonal patterns.

Traditional passive microwave sensors have supplied essential data for numerical weather prediction, but legacy broadband instruments lack the vertical resolution needed to capture fine atmospheric structures, according to a NOAA news release. HyMS uses high‑spectral resolution in microwave bands, offering all‑weather observations with improved vertical detail that could improve forecast accuracy and atmospheric profiling, according to the NOAA release.

The HyMS demonstrator, launched in January, has shown it can collect high‑quality hyperspectral microwave measurements from orbit, according to Spire. The system includes more than 2,000 sensing channels and is designed to resist radio frequency interference, enabling detailed atmospheric profiling.

The contract also includes an unfunded option to provide three months of additional data valued at $2 million. In 2022, Spire received a $4 million NOAA contract to develop the HyMS in‑orbit demonstrator.

The evaluation will determine whether the data can improve numerical weather prediction and complement existing observation systems.