Google launches first FireSat satellite to detect wildfires

Muon Space and Google have launched the first satellite of the future FireSat constellation, which will monitor forest fires across the planet.

The satellite was launched into orbit on the SpaceX Transporter 13 mission from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The constellation will begin operations in 2026, initially consisting of three satellites, but will eventually grow to 50, allowing it to image nearly all of Earth's surface every 20 minutes.

The sensor complex includes six bands of multispectral infrared cameras configured to detect forest fires from a distance.

Currently, most wildfire monitoring relies on aerial photography from aircraft or low-resolution satellite imagery. Aerial photography is expensive, which limits its frequency, and satellite imagery has low resolution and uses sensors not designed to effectively detect fires.