A new generation of Earth observation satellites is being developed to improve global wildfire detection and response, with companies and nonprofits partnering to deliver near real-time data to emergency responders.
Muon Space, a California-based satellite startup, launched its FireSat protoflight mission in March and is planning a dedicated constellation of wildfire monitoring satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). The initiative, known as FireSat, is being developed in collaboration with the nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance and is equipped with multispectral electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors to detect and track wildfires.
“This would be the first dedicated constellation designed to global wildfire detection and response,” said Brian Collins, executive director of the Earth Fire Alliance, during remarks at the GEOINT Symposium on May 18. “With a long-term goal to deploy as many as 50 FireSats, that would enable a 15-minute revisit rate across the planet. So we can see the fire move and we can move resources accordingly.”
Muon's FireSat platform is intended for both civilian disaster response and national security applications. The company is also working with the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office to assess the system's sensors for defense purposes. However, a key challenge remains in converting raw satellite data into actionable intelligence for emergency responders.
“These operations need actionable data… I don't think we've solved that problem,” said Muon Space CEO and co-founder Jonny Dyer. He added that while sensors are becoming more capable, the speed of analysis and delivery of usable information remains a bottleneck. “One of the challenges… is that while sensors can collect increasingly detailed data, there are not enough tools to analyze the information and make it immediately accessible to operators such as first-responder organizations,” Dyer noted.
Dyer said artificial intelligence would play a vital role in processing satellite data more quickly, although current systems are still catching up in terms of real-time application.
Other players in the Earth observation sector are also expanding efforts to support wildfire detection. Iceye US, the American arm of Finnish satellite firm Iceye, is leveraging synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology to detect fires through smoke and cloud cover. Madison Creeden, director of business development at Iceye US, said procurement delays remain a hurdle for emergency agencies trying to access satellite data in a timely manner.
“The geoint community could encourage more proactive response to disasters,” Creeden said at the symposium, citing slow contracting processes that often begin only after a disaster has started. She also stressed the need for improved training to help emergency personnel integrate satellite-derived data into field operations.
German startup OroraTech, which operates 10 satellites and recently opened a U.S. headquarters in Denver, is also expanding its wildfire detection services. The company combines proprietary satellite data with information from more than 30 public satellites to deliver a global fire monitoring system for utilities, emergency services, and government agencies.
“Technological advancements in space-based monitoring are needed due to the increasing scale and scope of wildfire disasters,” said Christopher Anthony, a former official with California's Cal Fire.
As climate change drives more intense and frequent wildfires, investments in satellite monitoring technologies are expected to grow, fueling international competition to deliver faster and more accurate data to the front lines of disaster response.