SBQuantum and Spire to send quantum diamond magnetometer into orbit

SAN FRANCISCO – Canadian startup SBQuantum plans to send a quantum diamond magnetometer into low-Earth orbit March 30 on a Spire Global satellite flying on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare.

Spire is providing the satellite, ground stations and data processing for SBQuantum's magnetometer, which is roughly the size of a quart of milk. SBQuantum and Spire are competing in the fourth and final phase of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) MagQuest competition. U.

"Reaching the final phase of MagQuest is the most significant technical milestone in our company's history," SBQuantum founder David Roy-Guay said in a statement. "Our technology has now been validated for the most demanding conditions imaginable. We are proud to bring to market a device which could soon play a central role in how the world navigates on land, air and sea.