LEMUR

A flexible & proven space platform

The LEMUR bus is an easily configurable modular satellite system, designed to meet a broad range of application needs.

Spire Global’s LEMUR is a modular nanosatellite system that supports configurations ranging from 5kg/3U missions up to 24kg/16U platforms and beyond.

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Spire by numbers

600+

Years of flight heritage

175+

Satellites launched

50+

Unique missions built

35+

Launch campaigns

Modular and multi-purpose architecture

LEMUR Tech

Configured to maximize rapid integration

LEMUR Technology satellite buses’ baseline hardware and software architecture allows for flexible, rapid, and cost-efficient integration. Combined with mission-specific “building blocks”, minimal reconfiguration is needed to optimise performance for remote sensing, high data throughput and complex communications missions, emergency communications, and fundamental research missions. 

These mission operations infrastructures result in a reliable, scalable platform that can be manufactured for various applications and objectives.

Hubble

Configured to maximize power

The Hubble Network uses a proprietary RF protocol to provide direct-to-space connectivity from off-the-shelf Bluetooth devices. For this mission, LEMUR was configured to maximize available power for their payload, providing the necessary power to implement their advanced algorithm and active phased array technology.

NorthStar

Configured to maximize data volume

The NorthStar Skylark satellites use a proprietary camera and deployable baffle to scan space for objects in LEO, MEO, and GEO orbits, providing space-situational awareness for governments and space operators. For this mission, LEMUR was configured to maximize the large volume of imagery data to be downlinked to feed NorthStar’s space situational awareness service.

GHGSAT

Configured to maximize agility

GHGSat satellites provide detection and measurements of greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale. For this mission, LEMUR was configured to maximize pointing agility, allowing GHGSat to quickly transition between monitoring different sites and provide more coverage per satellite.

Powerful and reliable hardware

The LEMUR platform subsystems have been flight-proven on commercial, scientific, and technology demonstration missions. They combine this flight heritage with implementing the latest technology to ensure the practical reliability of the platform.

Satellites built on the LEMUR platform support a broad range of mission profiles today, including:

M2M Telecommunication

Vessel monitoring (AIS), aircraft monitoring (ADS-B), and Internet of Things (IoT) services.

Electro-optical Earth Observation (EO)

Multi-band infrared, panchromatic, multi/hyperspectral.

Radio Frequency (RF) EO

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) radio occultation, GNSS reflectometry, phase-delay altimetry, ionospheric science.

Spectrum Monitoring & Geolocation

GNSS jammer detection & geolocation, AIS geolocation, L-Band (SATCOM) geolocation, wideband spectrum monitoring (VHF to Ka/Ku).

Space Situational Awareness

Micrometeoroid detection, short-range radar, space-to-space optical imaging.

Research and Development

In-orbit demonstrations & validation of new technology, cybersecurity research.

LEMUR 3

LEMUR 4

LEMUR 6

LEMUR 8

LEMUR 16

Build-a-LEMUR

Each mission is individual, with its own needs, objectives, and specifications, yours is no different. Your LEMUR platform can be customized, with a modular approach, you can adjust based on payload volume or mass, power needed, what type of communications you’ll require as well as your attitude control or navigational requirements.

LEMUR 3 specifications
Payload volume
1U
Max. payload mass
3.4kg
Design lifetime
3-5 years
Knowledge error*
0.4° to 0.05°
Pointing error*
0.5° to 0.2°
Max payload power
25.5W
LEMUR 4 specifications
Payload volume
2U
Max. payload mass
4.2kg
Design lifetime
3-5 years
Knowledge error*
0.4° to 0.05°
Pointing error*
0.5° to 0.2°
Max payload power
25.5W
LEMUR 6 specifications
Payload volume
4U
Max. payload mass
7.7kg
Design lifetime
3-5 years
Knowledge error*
0.4° to 0.05°
Pointing error*
0.5° to 0.2°
Max payload power
25.5W
LEMUR 8 specifications
Payload volume
6U
Max. payload mass
9.8kg
Design lifetime
3-5 years
Knowledge error*
0.4° to 0.05°
Pointing error*
0.5° to 0.2°
Max payload power
25.5W
LEMUR 12 specifications
Payload volume
8U
Max. payload mass
22kg
Design lifetime
3-5 years
Knowledge error*
0.4° to 0.05°
Pointing error*
0.5° to 0.2°
Max payload power
288W
LEMUR 16 specifications
Payload volume
12U
Max. payload mass
23.4kg
Design lifetime
3-5 years
Knowledge error*
0.4° to 0.05°
Pointing error*
0.5° to 0.2°
Max payload power
288W

How your platform works in space

Spire optimizes your software to match your business objectives. This secure process of communication enables you to realize your data ambitions, drive new growth, discover new insights, and deliver real opportunities to your business.

Onboard software interface

LEMUR’s onboard Signalling API provides an interface for your payload to transfer data to/from the ground to your segment, request satellite manoeuvres, and be monitored by the platform. Spire provides open-source libraries, our system allows you to build according to your specifications.

Automatic cloud sync

Data and commands accessed through the Signalling API are automatically transferred through Spire’s global ground station network & ground station partners. Spire’s automated constellation management system automatically schedules sufficient ground station passes to meet your data SLAs (S3 bucket).

Direct payload control

Using the Constellation Management Platform (CMP) (control / task your payloads directly, no human between you and your assets, upload files).

Automate with APIs

Using the CMP’s powerful backend-APIs, you can automate your operations and integrate data from your space assets directly with your ground data processing and existing business infrastructure.

Areas of expertise with satellite platform

Geolocation

Spire has expertise in accurately determining the precise geographic location of signals emitted on Earth. The LEMUR platform supports precise timing & advanced signal processing techniques required to achieve high levels of accuracy and pinpoint signals across the globe.

Deployable structures

Spire has 600+ years of flight heritage across its LEMUR space platform range (LEMUR 3 to 16) in building and configuring deployable systems on a spacecraft. Spire Global has expertise in deployable structures, for example: solar arrays, deployable optical baffles, and deployable phased-array antennas.

Inter-satellite links

Spire Global’s specialty with 11+ years of experience in radio frequency, operating the world’s largest RF collection constellation with 160+ sats launched and 600+ years of flight heritage. Spire has expertise in conducting RF-based ISL for a pair as well as cluster formation of satellites. This expertise allows for accelerated backhaul for maximizing data download capabilities as required by your space mission.

Multi payload

Multi-satellite design for constellation scale as well as multi-payload-per-satellite expertise. Spire has deep experience in managing a diversified constellation of multi-payload satellites and knows how to account for the management and tasking of satellites across payload window collection, ensuring data collection, quality, and quantum are in sync with business needs. Spire’s capability ranges across earth observation, radio frequency, space situational awareness, and connectivity.

Flexible edge processing

A key feature of the platform is its ability to reprogram and upload new software easily. Coupled with powerful onboard compute capabilities and software management tooling integrated into Spire’s Constellation Management Platform, rapid innovation and edge processing of your data is a core part of LEMUR’s strength as an innovation platform.

From platform to manufacturing

Making your platform a reality with Spire manufacturing

Our experienced mechanism-building teams have enabled us to build modular platforms and optimize satellite platforms for your specific mission needs. With 600 in-house designed, deployable systems and approximately 300 plus end-to-end tested space systems, our manufacturing team is fully equipped at our state-of-the-art facility to realize your platform for launch.

Find out more about our manufacturing services

Spire 16U and 4U LEMUR satellites

Concept to orbit

We’re here with you every step of the way

We’re ready to start your space journey. Utilizing our space heritage and expertise to give you the ability to make your space ambitions a reality. Spire is your partner in your continuous journey of space data collection. You have specific mission objectives that need to be met, we have the specific space platform to get you there, and the capabilities to take you beyond. Let’s discuss, develop, and execute together.

Get started Learn about launching into space

LEMUR

A flexible & proven space platform

The LEMUR bus is an easily configurable modular satellite system, designed to meet a broad range of application needs.

Spire by numbers

600+

175+

50+

35+

Modular and multi-purpose architecture

LEMUR Tech

Hubble

NorthStar

GHGSAT

Powerful and reliable hardware

M2M Telecommunication

Electro-optical Earth Observation (EO)

Radio Frequency (RF) EO

Spectrum Monitoring & Geolocation

Space Situational Awareness

Research and Development

LEMUR 3

LEMUR 4

LEMUR 6

LEMUR 8

LEMUR 16

Build-a-LEMUR

LEMUR 3 specifications

1U

3.4kg

3-5 years

0.4° to 0.05°

0.5° to 0.2°

25.5W

LEMUR 4 specifications

2U

4.2kg

3-5 years

0.4° to 0.05°

0.5° to 0.2°

25.5W

LEMUR 6 specifications

4U

7.7kg

3-5 years

0.4° to 0.05°

0.5° to 0.2°

25.5W

LEMUR 8 specifications

6U

9.8kg

3-5 years

0.4° to 0.05°

0.5° to 0.2°

25.5W

LEMUR 12 specifications

8U

22kg

3-5 years

0.4° to 0.05°

0.5° to 0.2°

288W

LEMUR 16 specifications

12U

23.4kg

3-5 years

0.4° to 0.05°

0.5° to 0.2°

288W

How your platform works in space

Onboard software interface

Automatic cloud sync

Direct payload control

Automate with APIs

Areas of expertise with satellite platform

Geolocation

Deployable structures

Inter-satellite links

Multi payload

Flexible edge processing

From platform to manufacturing