FireSat satellite launches to enhance wildfire detection

Published 17/03/2025, 13:26
© Reuters.

Investing.com -- Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) has announced the successful launch and communication with Earth of the first FireSat satellite, which is part of a larger constellation designed to detect and track wildfires. The satellite is the first of over 50 planned to be part of this unique constellation, which will utilize AI to identify fires as small as a classroom, approximately 5x5 meters.

The FireSat satellite was launched from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-13 mission. This marks a significant advancement in wildfire detection technology, as many wildfire authorities currently rely on low-resolution satellite imagery that’s updated only a few times per day.

The new FireSat constellation aims to provide high-resolution imagery updated globally every 20 minutes. This advancement will greatly assist emergency responders in catching wildfires before they can cause significant damage.

The FireSat project is a collaborative effort involving Google Research, Muon Space, the Earth Fire Alliance, the Moore Foundation, wildfire authorities, and others. Google.org has contributed $13 million towards the funding of the initial satellites as part of the AI Collaborative: Wildfires initiative. This initiative is designed to harness the potential of AI to reduce the economic, humanitarian, and environmental damages caused by catastrophic wildfires.

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