SPIRE is one of three instruments on-board the European Space Agency's Herschel Space Observatory, which was launched on May 14, 2009 and became non-functional on April 29, 2013, exceeding its targeted life-span of 3.5 years. The Herschel satellite was turned off on June 17, 2013. The SPIRE team will support the post-operational phase for three years. The SPIRE instrument allows for medium to high resolution imaging spectroscopy and photometry in the far infrared and submillimeter range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The Canadian contribution to SPIRE consists of a test facility Fourier Transform Spectrometer to test instrument models, data analysis software, as well as personnel for the instrument control, test, and science teams. This portion of the mission is undertaken with the financial support of the Canadian Space Agency.
