Latest news with #FireSat
CNET
3 days ago
- Science
- CNET
These Are the First FireSat Images for Finding Wildfires from Space
At Google I/O in May, Google revealed that it's working with the Earth Fire Alliance on FireSat, a program that combines new high-resolution satellites with AI analysis to pinpoint wildfires in their earliest stages and help responders knock them down before they grow. This week the alliance released the first images captured by the initial satellite, showing how fires as small as 5-by-5 meters -- about the size of a classroom -- can be detected from space. FireSat identified this small roadside fire in Oregon in June 2025. Muon Space and Earth Fire Alliance Existing satellite systems scan for fires, but at a coarser resolution. In one image from Oregon, using MWIR (Mid-Wave Infrared) heat-sensing imaging, a small roadside fire showed up as a bright speck. According to the alliance, it wasn't detected by other space-based systems. Using up to six infrared channels, FireSat can detect new fires as well as hot burn scars from earlier fires, as shown in this June 15 image from Ontario, Canada. Muon Space and Earth Fire Alliance This example from Ontario, Canada, on June 15, 2025, shows the Nipigon 6 fire, a new blaze detected using the MWIR spectrum, but it also shows how LWIR (Long-Wave Infrared) was used to identify areas left over from a previous burn in 2020, which are heated due to a lack of vegetation. At the bottom, a false-color composite of SWIR (Short-Wave Infrared), NIR (Near-Infrared) and visible Red channels helps track the life cycle of the fire. Currently, the Earth Fire Alliance has one protoflight satellite, built by Muon Space, aloft for testing. With three satellites in orbit, FireSat will be able to scan locations globally twice a day. And when the program is fully operational, in 2030, a network of more than 50 satellites is expected to cut that time down to 20 minutes; for areas that are more prone to fires, that interval will be every 9 to 12 minutes. One key reason for Google's involvement in the alliance is to sort through the massive amount of data that will be generated. Muon Space estimates that each satellite will cover 190 million square kilometers per day, and the multispectral instrument on each satellite records across six channels. With AI and software assistance from Google, the program should filter out false positives. AI is playing a larger role in fighting wildfires around the world -- NASA is using its vast trove of Landsat satellite data to build predictive models of where fires are likely to erupt next. "There are millions of things that can be mistaken for a fire," said Chris Van Arsdale, Google Research climate and energy lead and chair of the Earth Fire Alliance board of directors. "Looking for fires becomes a game of looking for needles in a world of haystacks." FireSat can locate wildfires in areas too remote to be detected by many other methods, as seen in this example showing Alaska on June 21. Muon Space and Earth Fire Alliance It will also be important to prioritize fires that crews can respond to. A June 21, 2025, image of a remote area of Alaska shows a fire that wasn't observable by ground-based sources. A FireSat image composite showing wildfires in Australia. Muon Space and Earth Fire Alliance In this image from Borroloola, Northern Territory, Australia from July 11, 2025, the FireSat satellite identified multiple wildfires spread over a large distance, which would help fire responders coordinate efforts. The Earth Fire Alliance is currently working with some fire departments and other early adopters to help determine how best to parse the data and communicate with responders. "What you're looking at now is raw imagery that is helpful for the technologists, the scientists [and] the remote sensors," said Kate Dargan Marquis, former California state fire marshall and senior wildfire advisor to the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, a main underwriter of the Earth Fire Alliance. "But for firefighters, we'll build fire data products on this data." That would include map-based tools with AI underpinnings to help them understand where and how they can make fire response decisions, she noted. The FireSat satellite and the people who helped build it. Muon Space The data will eventually be made available for public resources, such as those used by the consumer app Watch Duty. Brian Collins, executive director of Earth Fire Alliance, explained that the current early adopter program includes pathways to determine how to disseminate the information being collected, be that through local dispatchers or other sources. "A very informed public can make decisions [such as when to prepare to evacuate] in advance of being told," he said, adding that a public that understands fire is no longer scared of fire. Although FireSat is still in its first stages and won't be considered operational until three satellites are in orbit, in 2026, the initial data and imagery looks to be a promising tool for fighting wildfires around the globe.
Business Wire
23-07-2025
- Science
- Business Wire
Earth Fire Alliance Releases First Wildfire Images from FireSat Protoflight
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Earth Fire Alliance, the global nonprofit coalition committed to delivering transformative data and insights from all wildfires on Earth, in collaboration with Muon Space and Google Research, today released the first wildfire images captured by the FireSat Protoflight satellite. Collectively, these images demonstrate the powerful impact FireSat will have on communities and the firefighters who protect them worldwide. Among the first images is a small fire in Oregon, USA, that was undetected by existing satellites, highlighting the opportunity FireSat presents to deliver insights missed by other space-based systems... Share Among the first images is a small fire in Oregon, USA, that was undetected by existing satellites, highlighting the opportunity FireSat presents to deliver insights missed by other space-based systems and to help first responders identify more fires in their early stages, assess their potential impact, and act before the fires escalate into public safety threats. FireSat can detect fires as small as 5x5 meters, making it orders of magnitude more precise than existing satellites. Once fully operational, the FireSat constellation will scan Earth's most fire-prone regions every 20 minutes, enabling unprecedented detection, monitoring, and characterization. The image collection spans diverse fire conditions across North America and Australia: Oregon, USA: A small roadside fire undetected by existing space-based systems was identified by FireSat, showcasing the satellite's superior sensitivity for early-stage fire detection. Nipigon 6 Fire, Ontario, Canada: FireSat's multispectral sensor distinguishes active fire regions from land that has experienced prior fires and unaffected areas. Northern Territory, Australia: FireSat detected multiple active fires and revealed variations in surface temperatures across the landscape. Moran Fire and Chicken Fire, Alaska, USA: This capture of two fires in one image demonstrates FireSat's value for monitoring remote regions where it is challenging to conduct ground-based observation. 'These images represent a turning point in how the world will see and respond to wildfires," said Brian Collins, Executive Director of Earth Fire Alliance. "FireSat is the result of extensive collaboration among engineers, researchers, frontline fire agencies, and philanthropies—and it's built to serve fire agencies around the world. Our goal is simple: ensure that every fire, anywhere on Earth, is visible and understood in near real time.' Next-Generation Infrared Sensing FireSat was purpose-built for the global wildfire challenge. Informed by close coordination with hundreds of national, regional, and local fire officials, as well as fire modelers and scientists, the satellite's advanced multispectral infrared sensors, designed and built by Muon Space, meet their real-world needs. FireSat can sense through smoke and clouds to reveal small fires and measure critical metrics such as fire perimeter, progression, and intensity. 'These first images are a powerful demonstration of what we built FireSat to do,' said Jonny Dyer, CEO of Muon Space. 'We're seeing clear, actionable detection of wildfire activity across multiple regions, which will provide an invaluable tool for first responders. While early detection is important, what's equally critical is FireSat's ability to support ongoing fire management by tracking a fire's progression and behavior.' Operating in low Earth orbit, FireSat has a 1,500 km observation swath and a ground sample distance of 50 meters from directly overhead. Its combination of resolution, thermal sensitivity, and broad dynamic range allows it to sense small, smoldering fires while simultaneously monitoring extreme wildfire events. A World-Class Wildfire Dataset Building on the successful Protoflight launched in March, Earth Fire Alliance and Muon Space will deploy the first three operational FireSats in mid-2026, which will deliver twice-daily global observation. The full constellation will comprise 50+ satellites by 2030. Google Research plans to use AI to compare operational FireSat data with historical images of the same location, then take local weather and other factors into account to identify small fires with low false positive rates. AI applications will also reveal insights on fire behavior for predictive modeling. "Paired with advanced AI, this data will be invaluable for fire authorities and Earth science," said Chris Van Arsdale, Google Research Climate & Energy Lead and Chair of the Earth Fire Alliance Board of Directors. 'FireSat's first wildfire images are precisely what we envisioned when we began this research and partnership." The Power of a Global Coalition Projections show that the FireSat constellation will deliver significant public safety, economic, and environmental benefits. In the United States alone, even a one-hour FireSat revisit rate could annually save more than $1 billion in fire damage costs, protect 3,500 homes and properties, reduce burned land by 1.3 million acres, and prevent 21.9 million tons of carbon emissions. In June, Earth Fire Alliance announced the first cohort of participants in its Early Adopter Program, which offers an opportunity for fire agencies and fire scientists to help refine data products, define data delivery mechanisms, and harness the potential for FireSat data when initial operational capability is reached in 2026. Earth Fire Alliance is grateful to founding partners Google, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, Muon Space, and others that have contributed scientific expertise, leadership, and philanthropic support to make the FireSat program possible. The inaugural FireSat images represent a milestone in leveraging public-private-philanthropic partnerships to advance global wildfire detection, response, and understanding. To access all four images in high-resolution, please 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 constellation. For more information, visit
National Post
23-07-2025
- Science
- National Post
Earth Fire Alliance Releases First Wildfire Images from FireSat Protoflight
Article content In partnership with Muon Space and Google Research, the Alliance unveils breakthrough wildfire imagery, signaling a new era of precision, data, and insights for fire response Article content SAN FRANCISCO — Earth Fire Alliance, the global nonprofit coalition committed to delivering transformative data and insights from all wildfires on Earth, in collaboration with Muon Space and Google Research, today released the first wildfire images captured by the FireSat Protoflight satellite. Collectively, these images demonstrate the powerful impact FireSat will have on communities and the firefighters who protect them worldwide. Article content Among the first images is a small fire in Oregon, USA, that was undetected by existing satellites, highlighting the opportunity FireSat presents to deliver insights missed by other space-based systems and to help first responders identify more fires in their early stages, assess their potential impact, and act before the fires escalate into public safety threats. Article content FireSat can detect fires as small as 5×5 meters, making it orders of magnitude more precise than existing satellites. Once fully operational, the FireSat constellation will scan Earth's most fire-prone regions every 20 minutes, enabling unprecedented detection, monitoring, and characterization. Article content The image collection spans diverse fire conditions across North America and Australia: Article content Oregon, USA: A small roadside fire undetected by existing space-based systems was identified by FireSat, showcasing the satellite's superior sensitivity for early-stage fire detection. Nipigon 6 Fire, Ontario, Canada: FireSat's multispectral sensor distinguishes active fire regions from land that has experienced prior fires and unaffected areas. Northern Territory, Australia: FireSat detected multiple active fires and revealed variations in surface temperatures across the landscape. Moran Fire and Chicken Fire, Alaska, USA: This capture of two fires in one image demonstrates FireSat's value for monitoring remote regions where it is challenging to conduct ground-based observation. Article content 'These images represent a turning point in how the world will see and respond to wildfires,' said Brian Collins, Executive Director of Earth Fire Alliance. 'FireSat is the result of extensive collaboration among engineers, researchers, frontline fire agencies, and philanthropies—and it's built to serve fire agencies around the world. Our goal is simple: ensure that every fire, anywhere on Earth, is visible and understood in near real time.' Article content Next-Generation Infrared Sensing Article content FireSat was purpose-built for the global wildfire challenge. Informed by close coordination with hundreds of national, regional, and local fire officials, as well as fire modelers and scientists, the satellite's advanced multispectral infrared sensors, designed and built by Muon Space, meet their real-world needs. FireSat can sense through smoke and clouds to reveal small fires and measure critical metrics such as fire perimeter, progression, and intensity. Article content 'These first images are a powerful demonstration of what we built FireSat to do,' said Jonny Dyer, CEO of Muon Space. 'We're seeing clear, actionable detection of wildfire activity across multiple regions, which will provide an invaluable tool for first responders. While early detection is important, what's equally critical is FireSat's ability to support ongoing fire management by tracking a fire's progression and behavior.' Article content Operating in low Earth orbit, FireSat has a 1,500 km observation swath and a ground sample distance of 50 meters from directly overhead. Its combination of resolution, thermal sensitivity, and broad dynamic range allows it to sense small, smoldering fires while simultaneously monitoring extreme wildfire events. Article content A World-Class Wildfire Dataset Article content Building on the successful Protoflight launched in March, Earth Fire Alliance and Muon Space will deploy the first three operational FireSats in mid-2026, which will deliver twice-daily global observation. The full constellation will comprise 50+ satellites by 2030. Article content Google Research plans to use AI to compare operational FireSat data with historical images of the same location, then take local weather and other factors into account to identify small fires with low false positive rates. AI applications will also reveal insights on fire behavior for predictive modeling. Article content 'Paired with advanced AI, this data will be invaluable for fire authorities and Earth science,' said Chris Van Arsdale, Google Research Climate & Energy Lead and Chair of the Earth Fire Alliance Board of Directors. 'FireSat's first wildfire images are precisely what we envisioned when we began this research and partnership.' Article content The Power of a Global Coalition Article content Projections show that the FireSat constellation will deliver significant public safety, economic, and environmental benefits. In the United States alone, even a one-hour FireSat revisit rate could annually save more than $1 billion in fire damage costs, protect 3,500 homes and properties, reduce burned land by 1.3 million acres, and prevent 21.9 million tons of carbon emissions. Article content In June, Earth Fire Alliance announced the first cohort of participants in its Early Adopter Program, which offers an opportunity for fire agencies and fire scientists to help refine data products, define data delivery mechanisms, and harness the potential for FireSat data when initial operational capability is reached in 2026. Article content Earth Fire Alliance is grateful to founding partners Google, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, Muon Space, and others that have contributed scientific expertise, leadership, and philanthropic support to make the FireSat program possible. The inaugural FireSat images represent a milestone in leveraging public-private-philanthropic partnerships to advance global wildfire detection, response, and understanding. Article content To access all four images in high-resolution, please 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 constellation. For more information, visit Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Science
- 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
01-07-2025
- Science
- 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)
