On March 30, 2026, Spire Global successfully launched ten satellites aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-16 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base. A key highlight of this launch is a specialized satellite carrying a diamond quantum magnetometer, marking a major milestone in the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s (NGA) MagQuest challenge.
The MagQuest initiative is a multi-million-dollar open innovation competition designed to identify new, commercial methods for measuring Earth’s magnetic field. These measurements are critical for maintaining the World Magnetic Model (WMM), the standard representation of the planet’s magnetic field used by billions of people for navigation in smartphones, GPS systems, and military hardware.
Quantum Sensing for the World Magnetic Model
The satellite launched by Spire integrates a first-of-its-kind diamond quantum magnetometer developed by SBQuantum. This sensor utilizes the quantum properties of nitrogen-vacuum centers in diamonds to detect extremely subtle shifts in the geomagnetic field with high precision.
Traditional methods for updating the WMM have historically relied on large, expensive government satellites like the European Space Agency’s Swarm mission. The MagQuest flight demonstration aims to prove that a miniaturized, commercially hosted quantum sensor can provide data of equal or superior quality. Following the launch, Spire and SBQuantum will provide data to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center for rigorous evaluation.
Modernizing Navigation in GPS-Denied Environments
The NGA’s interest in high-accuracy magnetic mapping has intensified as global powers seek resilient alternatives to GPS. In “GPS-denied” environments—where signals are jammed or spoofed—magnetic navigation can serve as an unhackable backup, allowing aircraft, ships, and autonomous systems to determine their position by comparing local magnetic readings against the WMM.
“Reliable positioning, navigation, and timing is a growing priority,” said Quintin Jones, Vice President and Head of North America at Spire Global. “Through the MagQuest challenge, we’re demonstrating how commercial satellite infrastructure can support new approaches to geomagnetic data collection and help advance technologies used by millions every day.”
Broader Transporter-16 Mission Impact
In addition to the MagQuest payload, Spire Global utilized the Transporter-16 mission to expand several other areas of its space-based data business. The launch included:
- Optical Inter-Satellite Links (OISL): Spire’s seventh OISL-equipped satellite was deployed to further test high-speed laser communications between spacecraft, reducing reliance on ground station proximity.
- IoT Connectivity: Four satellites were launched for the IoT provider Myriota to scale global connectivity for smart devices.
- International Partnerships: The Sejong-3 satellite was deployed for South Korea’s HANCOM InSpace to support domestic space-based data applications.
- Aviation Tracking: One constellation replenishment satellite equipped with ADS-B technology was added to enhance Spire’s global aircraft tracking services.
The results of the MagQuest flight phase are expected by late 2026. If successful, this mission will directly inform the NGA’s long-term acquisition strategy for a permanent, commercially-sourced global magnetic field data collection capability targeted for 2030.
