New space technology spots wildfires in their first crucial hours when they're still small enough to contain
Current wildfire detection systems miss about 85% of fires during their first crucial hours when they're still small enough to contain easily. Most detection happens through frantic calls to local authorities from villagers who spot smoke or forest guards on patrol routes. Ground-based camera networks cover barely 5% of at-risk areas globally.
Here's where it gets interesting. A new constellation called FireSat just proved it can spot fires smaller than a tennis court from over 600 kilometres above Earth. The first test satellite launched this year has been sending back thermal images that show heat signatures invisible to human eyes.
What makes this different from existing weather satellites is the refresh rate. The full constellation will scan every spot on Earth every 20 minutes, with fire-prone areas getting checked even more frequently. Current satellites might pass over the same area once or twice per day.
The technology uses six different infrared channels to filter out false alarms. Hot roads, metal rooftops, and even cooking fires in rural areas can trigger older systems. This new approach can tell the difference between a farmer burning crop stubble and an actual forest threat. The real game changer
Beyond just spotting fires faster, this system could predict where flames will spread next. Real-time data on fire intensity, wind patterns, and fuel moisture could help firefighters position resources hours before flames arrive. Instead of always playing catch-up like we saw in California, emergency teams might finally get ahead of disasters.
The first prototype images captured volcanic activity in Hawaii and industrial flares in Libya with startling clarity. If 50 satellites can deliver this quality of data continuously by 2030, wildfire response could shift from reactive damage control to proactive prevention.
Early detection systems in other fields have proven transformative - medical screening catches diseases before symptoms appear, earthquake sensors provide crucial warning seconds. Wildfire detection has been stuck in the stone age by comparison.
Whether this technology scales up successfully remains uncertain. But with fire seasons getting longer and more destructive worldwide, having constant surveillance from space might be our best shot at staying one step ahead of the flames threatening our forests.
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Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Muon Space Releases First Light Images from FireSat Protoflight
Advanced multispectral infrared payload demonstrates exceptional capabilities in inaugural on-orbit demonstration MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Muon Space, a leading provider of end-to-end space systems specializing in mission-optimized satellite constellations, today released the first light images from its FireSat Protoflight, marking a significant milestone in the development of the world's first dedicated wildfire detection and monitoring constellation. The images, captured by Muon's state-of-the-art six-channel multispectral infrared (IR) instrument, demonstrate the exceptional capabilities of this revolutionary IR technology for detecting and monitoring thermal activities. Launched on March 14th aboard SpaceX's Transporter-13 mission, the FireSat constellation is a collaboration between Muon and the nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance to enhance global wildfire response by delivering actionable data to first responders, policymakers, and communities facing escalating wildfire threats. The satellite's six-channel multispectral IR instrument – designed and built in-house – places Muon among a select group of commercial companies capable of developing and operating advanced space-based thermal sensors. Capturing IR imagery validates both the instrument and Muon's vertically integrated satellite platform. "The FireSat first light images demonstrate Muon's approach to building mission-optimized satellites including purpose-built instruments," said Jonny Dyer, CEO of Muon Space. "I'm ecstatic with both the speed at which we moved from FireSat mission formulation to an orbit demonstration and the quality of the data that we are now collecting." Captured in June 2025 using FireSat Protoflight's multispectral infrared sensors, our first imagery set reveals urban heat islands, airport runway activity, and water temperature variations in Sydney, Australia; lava fountains at Hawaii's Kīlauea volcano; and gas flares at Libya's Sarir oil field complex. "These first light images confirm that our IR sensors are operating as designed and collecting high-quality data," said Dan McCleese, Chief Scientist of Muon Space. "Infrared imaging with this quality is one of the most technically demanding domains in remote sensing, and we're proud to be among the few commercial players advancing this capability in orbit." A New Layer of Intelligence for Wildfire Detection, Tracking, and Response FireSat is capable of multispectral imaging across the visible, near-infrared, short-, mid- and long-wave infrared bands simultaneously. High-fidelity IR data is essential for detecting wildfires in their early stages, monitoring fire dynamics, and tracking other thermal anomalies. FireSat addresses a longstanding gap in space-based wildfire monitoring by delivering persistent, high-resolution, actionable intelligence to government and commercial users. Distinguished by its high-dynamic range (HDR) multispectral IR instrument, the FireSat Constellation is uniquely equipped to differentiate genuine wildfire events from false positives and enhance the accuracy and reliability of wildfire detection and assessment of fire intensity. The FireSat constellation will operate in LEO with an observation swath width of 1,500 km and an nadir ground sample distance of 50m. The instrument's resolution, sensitivity and large dynamic range enable it to detect small cool fires 5x5 meters while also imaging without saturation for hot intense fires. As the demonstration mission for a planned 50+ satellite constellation, FireSat Protoflight will soon begin providing high-resolution thermal infrared data to meet growing demand across government, commercial, and environmental sectors. The full constellation will deliver global coverage, with each point on Earth observed every 20 minutes and key wildfire-prone regions benefiting from more frequent observations. The FireSat initiative is led by the Earth Fire Alliance and supported by Google Research, along with leading NGOs and philanthropic organizations including the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Environmental Defense Fund. This milestone builds on Muon's earlier announcement that FireSat was successfully deployed and communicating in orbit. The company remains on track to launch the first block of three additional FireSat satellites in 2026, with full operational FireSat constellation capacity targeted for 2030. About Muon Space Founded in 2021, Muon Space is an end-to-end space systems company that designs, builds, and operates mission-optimized satellite constellations to deliver critical data and enable real-time compute and decision-making in space. Its proprietary technology stack, Halo™, integrates advanced spacecraft platforms, robust payload integration and management, and a powerful software-defined orchestration layer to enable high-performance capabilities at unprecedented speed – from concept to orbit. With state-of-the-art production facilities in Silicon Valley and a growing track record of national security and commercial customers, Muon Space is redefining how critical Earth intelligence is delivered from space. For more information on Muon Space, visit: About Earth Fire Alliance Earth Fire Alliance is a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation founded in 2024 on the belief that high-fidelity data, accessible on a global scale, will transform humanity's collective approach and relationship to fire. The Alliance shares a vision of expanding wildfire focus and funding from reactive suppression to proactive stewardship that includes better informed real-time decisions on the ground, data-driven resilience initiatives, and improved understanding about the positive and negative role of fire on the landscape. Committed to delivering transformative real-time data from all wildfires on Earth through user-driven technology and radical collaboration, Earth Fire Alliance champions the FireSat satellite constellation. FireSat will deliver unprecedented data about where fires are and how fast they're moving to frontline fire responders around the globe. Learn more about the Alliance, FireSat, and how to get involved or support at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Muon Space Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
This satellite scans entire Earth every 20 mins, reports wildfires
Just over three months after US-based aerospace start-up Muon Space launched its FireSat Protoflight satellite, the end-to-end space systems provider has shared the first images taken by the spacecraft. This spacecraft, launched on SpaceX's Transporter-13 mission in March, was a collaboration between Muon, and Earth Fire Alliance, a non-profit organisation aiming to gather real-time data from all fires on Earth. 'These first light images confirm that our IR sensors are operating as designed and collecting high-quality data,' said Dan McCleese, chief scientist of Muon Space in a press release. The FireSat Protoflight satellite is the first of a proposed 50 satellites that Muon aims to launch, which they aim to use to track wildfires on Earth. The first few images taken by the FireSat Protoflight have been from a low-Earth orbit, using a multi-band infrared (IR) instrument. This then scanned for heat signatures, which could indicate the presence of wildfires. Using a precise high-dynamic range (HDR) six-channel multispectral IR instrument, the satellites are capable of multispectral imaging across the visible, near-infrared (NIR), short-wave infrared (SWIR), mid-wave infrared (MWIR), and long-wave infrared (LWIR) bands simultaneously. Each band takes up a channel, and the channels are used together to derive further information. The instrument is built by Muon Space itself. The satellites are able to scan areas of over 1,500 kilometres at a time, and identify fires as small as five-by-five meters in that range. They are also able to make a distinction between false positive fires and actual wildfire threats. The above image depicts FireSat Protoflight detecting thermal signatures at Libya's Sarir oil field complex, which are likely gas flares rather than a wildfire risk. The satellite's channels observing MWIR and LWIR identify the same heat sources, indicating the effectiveness of the multi-channel approach in data collection and allowing FireSat to differentiate different types of heat sources and confirm detections. Once relevant data is acquired, it is sent out to first responders, policymakers, and communities facing escalating wildfire threats. This is a crucial advancement in space-based wildfire monitoring, providing accurate and relevant information to governments and concerned citizens alike. Muon is set to launch the first block of three further FireSat satellites in 2026, and aims for the FireSat constellation to be at capacity and fully operational by 2030. The constellation is set to have global coverage, and will scan the entirety of Earth for wildfires every twenty minutes. Wildfire-prone areas would be scanned even more often, to further reduce the threat. (This article has been curated by Purv Ashar, who is an intern with The Indian Express)
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
New space technology spots wildfires in their first crucial hours when they're still small enough to contain
Remember the Uttarakhand forest fires that raged for weeks in 2016? Or the massive blazes that swept through Himachal Pradesh last year? The pattern is always the same - by the time we spot most wildfires, they're already unstoppable monsters consuming thousands of hectares. Thermal imaging from space reveals heat signatures invisible to ground-based detection systems currently protecting most fire-prone areas.(Muon Space) Current wildfire detection systems miss about 85% of fires during their first crucial hours when they're still small enough to contain easily. Most detection happens through frantic calls to local authorities from villagers who spot smoke or forest guards on patrol routes. Ground-based camera networks cover barely 5% of at-risk areas globally. Here's where it gets interesting. A new constellation called FireSat just proved it can spot fires smaller than a tennis court from over 600 kilometres above Earth. The first test satellite launched this year has been sending back thermal images that show heat signatures invisible to human eyes. What makes this different from existing weather satellites is the refresh rate. The full constellation will scan every spot on Earth every 20 minutes, with fire-prone areas getting checked even more frequently. Current satellites might pass over the same area once or twice per day. The technology uses six different infrared channels to filter out false alarms. Hot roads, metal rooftops, and even cooking fires in rural areas can trigger older systems. This new approach can tell the difference between a farmer burning crop stubble and an actual forest threat. The real game changer Beyond just spotting fires faster, this system could predict where flames will spread next. Real-time data on fire intensity, wind patterns, and fuel moisture could help firefighters position resources hours before flames arrive. Instead of always playing catch-up like we saw in California, emergency teams might finally get ahead of disasters. The first prototype images captured volcanic activity in Hawaii and industrial flares in Libya with startling clarity. If 50 satellites can deliver this quality of data continuously by 2030, wildfire response could shift from reactive damage control to proactive prevention. Early detection systems in other fields have proven transformative - medical screening catches diseases before symptoms appear, earthquake sensors provide crucial warning seconds. Wildfire detection has been stuck in the stone age by comparison. Whether this technology scales up successfully remains uncertain. But with fire seasons getting longer and more destructive worldwide, having constant surveillance from space might be our best shot at staying one step ahead of the flames threatening our forests.
