Muon Space has published the first set of images from its FireSat protoflight satellite, a significant step forward in the company’s plan to create a dedicated space-based system for wildfire detection. According to the official press release, the images validate the performance of the company’s custom-built thermal infrared instrument and its integrated spacecraft platform.
The initial images, captured during the satellite’s commissioning phase, demonstrate the system’s powerful thermal detection capabilities. The company’s announcement detailed that the satellite successfully imaged a variety of heat signatures across the globe. These included identifying urban heat islands and active airport runways in Sydney, Australia, detecting scorching lava at the Kīlauea volcano in Hawaii, and distinguishing gas flares at an oil field in Libya. The release mentioned that this ability to differentiate between various types of thermal activity is crucial for the mission’s success.
This protoflight satellite is the first phase of a larger project developed in collaboration with the nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance. The ultimate goal is to establish a constellation of satellites that can provide near-real-time data to first responders, policymakers, and communities threatened by wildfires. The technology at the heart of the satellite is a state-of-the-art, six-channel multispectral infrared instrument, which was designed and built entirely by Muon Space.
A key capability highlighted in the release is the instrument’s ability to use its multiple infrared bands to confirm detections and reduce false positives. Jonny Dyer, the CEO of Muon Space, stated in the announcement that the successful first light images are a testament to the company’s approach of building mission-optimized satellites with purpose-built instruments.
The press release also noted that this achievement paves the way for the full FireSat constellation. Once fully operational, the network of satellites will be able to observe every point on Earth every 20 minutes, with the capacity to detect fires as small as five by five meters. “These first light images confirm that our IR sensors are operating as designed and collecting high-quality data,” Dan McCleese, Chief Scientist of Muon Space, was quoted as saying. He added that producing infrared imaging of this quality is a technically demanding feat and that the company is proud to be one of the few commercial entities advancing this capability in orbit.
