Morpheus Space, a leading satellite mobility provider, today announced the launch of Sphere Safe, a unique hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) and on-demand pricing model designed to make propulsion technology and other active sub-systems more accessible for satellite and small spacecraft manufacturers.
Spire Global, a leading provider of space-based data, analytics and space services, is the first company to adapt Sphere Safe for its upcoming satellite missions.
Also Read: Vertical Aerospace announces $205 million in additional funding led by Mudrick Capital
Ideas about HaaS models for satellite components have largely remained just that: ideas. The current industry standards and legal barriers make it very difficult to introduce such disruptive innovations, making this a pivotal moment for the industry. In the same way that every company has become a tech company throughout the last two decades, successful tech companies will have to adapt space-based solutions in order to stay competitive. Morpheus Space and Spire Global are seeking to lead the New Space industry to this new era by example with Sphere Safe and the shared vision of a more collaborative and inclusive industry.
“Morpheus Space’s propulsion technology will help to ‘push’ Spire to the next frontier of location precision, unlocking new innovation possibilities for our data and analytics, as well as our space services customers,” said Jeroen Cappaert, CTO of Spire. “Morpheus Space’s Sphere Safe model is an efficient and cost-effective way to explore new technology that aligns perfectly with Spire’s mission to build a better future on earth using insights from the ultimate vantage point of space.”
Historically, satellite manufacturers have had to pay significant upfront costs to purchase propulsion systems, followed by more post-production fees. This is not only incredibly expensive, but places nearly all the risk on the buyer. Sphere Safe not only offers a significant drop in upfront cost (roughly 25x lower than industry standard), but also introduces an on-demand model combined with an optional subscription to eliminate much of the burden that normally falls on the buyer.