EXHIBIT 99.1
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                         SPIRE CORPORATION NEWS RELEASE


Contact:     Spire Corporation
             James F. Parslow, Chief Financial Officer
             Tel. 781-275-6000

            SPIRE CORPORATION PROVIDES UPDATE ON NASDAQ NOTIFICATION

Bedford, MA -- May 3, 2005 -- On April 6, 2005, Spire Corporation (the
"Company") (Nasdaq: SPIR) received a letter from the Nasdaq Listing
Qualifications Panel (the "Nasdaq Panel") indicating that the Company is no
longer in compliance with the $10,000,000 minimum stockholders' equity
requirement for continued listing set forth in Nasdaq Marketplace Rule
4450(a)(3). The Nasdaq Panel requested that the Company provide, by April 13,
2005, the Company's plan to achieve and sustain compliance with this
requirement. On April 13, 2005, the Company presented such plan to the Nasdaq
Panel.

On April 25, 2005, the Company received a letter from the Nasdaq Panel informing
the Company that the Nasdaq Panel was remanding this case to the Nasdaq Staff.
The Nasdaq Panel indicated that it believes that the Nasdaq Staff is the
appropriate body to review and evaluate the Company's plan of compliance,
following its normal procedures and processes.

On April 27, 2005, the Nasdaq Staff issued a Determination letter reiterating
the Nasdaq Panel's April 6th finding that the Company is no longer in compliance
with the $10,000,000 minimum stockholders' equity requirement for continued
listing set forth in Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4450(a)(3), and that the Nasdaq
Staff will review the Company's eligibility for continued National Market
listing. The Nasdaq Staff has requested that the Company provide, on or before
May 12, 2005, a plan to achieve and sustain compliance with Nasdaq listing
standards. The Company intends to present such plan to the Nasdaq Staff. If,
after conclusion of its review, Nasdaq determines that the Company has not
presented a sufficient plan to achieve and sustain compliance, it will provide
written notification that the Company's common stock will be delisted. If the
Company were to receive such a written notification, it could appeal the
decision to a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel. If such an appeal were
unsuccessful, the Company could apply to list the Company's common stock on the
Nasdaq SmallCap Market. The Company is currently evaluating its options with
respect to its response to the notice.

Spire Corporation is a diversified technology company serving the solar energy,
biomedical, telecommunications and defense industries worldwide with innovative
products and services based upon a common technology platform.

CERTAIN MATTERS DESCRIBED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE MAY BE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
SUBJECT TO RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER
MATERIALLY FROM THOSE INDICATED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. SUCH RISKS
AND UNCERTAINTIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO
PRESENT A SUFFICIENT PLAN TO ACHIEVE AND SUSTAIN COMPLIANCE BY THE RESPONSE
DEADLINE IMPOSED BY NASDAQ, THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO ACHIEVE ITS PLAN, NASDAQ'S
DETERMINATION OF THE SUFFICIENCY AND ACCEPTABILITY OF SUCH A PLAN AND THE
RESULTS OF ANY APPEAL PROCESS, IF NECESSARY, AS WELL AS OTHER FACTORS DESCRIBED
IN THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-KSB FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.