Company:OroraTech

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Early rendering of the MOVE-II satellite

OroraTech is a German aerospace start-up company providing wildfire monitoring with a network of around 35 thermal imaging satellites.[1] It was founded in 2018 as a university spin-off at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). The headquarters are in Munich, Germany.[2] In June 2023, OroraTech joined the Copernicus Programme of the European Union delivered by the European Space Agency.[3]

History

OroraTech's key idea had been developed during the MOVE-II CubeSat project and WARR at the Technical University of Munich (TUM).[4] Starting as a spin-off[5] in January 2017, the company was incorporated as Orbital Oracle Technologies GmbH (short: OroraTech) in September 2018.[6] Since OroraTech's technology is based on academic research at the TUM, TUM professors Ulrich Walter, a former astronaut, and Alexander W. Koch act as advisors to the company.[7]

Technology

Wildfire detection using infrared sensors in space had been proposed as a technology since the 1990s.[8][non-primary source needed][9][non-primary source needed] Technological advances, notably sunk space launch cost, enabled non-state actors to enter the market.[according to whom?] As such, OroraTech operates a software platform for the detection and monitoring of wildfires based on measuring thermal-infrared radiation from space.[citation needed] The company is using data from existing satellites and develops their own constellation of 3-U CubeSats with thermal-infrared cameras to further improve temporal and spatial resolution of fire detection.[citation needed]

Their Wildfire Solution software platform generates various overlays on base maps to visualize fire risk and fire detections. At the current stage, the platform uses data over twelve satellites in polar and geostationary orbits, including such by NASA, ESA, and EUMETSAT.[10] In early 2020, the platform had around 100 active users.[11]

Field applications

The technology is used by Wildfire Services in British Columbia (Canada) and New South Wales (Australia) for wildfire detection and wildfire suppression.[12] International media used images from OroraTech's wildfire service for coverage of the 2020 wildfire season in California,[13] Oregon,[14] British Columbia,[15] and Siberia.[16]

FOREST constellation

The satellite technology is based on research from the MOVE-II project at the Chair of Astronautics (LRT) at the TUM. During the project, a 1-Unit CubeSat was launched with SpaceX in December 2018.[17][18][19]

FOREST-1 and FOREST-2

OroraTech's first nanosatellite FOREST-1,[20] based on the original CubeSat, was developed to reach 10 cm x 10 cm x 34 cm in size,[21] weighing around 1.2 kg,[2] and it was launched on 13 January 2022 as part of SpaceX's Transporter-3 rideshare mission.[22][23][24] The satellite features an uncooled thermal-infrared imager for space applications,[25] and GPU-accelerated on-orbit processing to reduce downlink latency and bandwidth for quicker wildfire alert dissemination, making it particularly efficient in tackling the issue of detecting wildfires in late afternoon images.[26][27][22] A second satellite FOREST-2, once again hosted on a Lemur-2 cubesat platform, was launched on 12 June 2023 on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket as part of SpaceX Transporter-8 rideshare mission.[28][29]

FOREST-3

FOREST-3 is an Earth observation satellite focused on wildfire detection, developed by OroraTech with support of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the European Space Agency (ESA).[30][31][32][33] The 8U CubeSat is designed to provide multispectral thermal-infrared imaging of Earth surface during afternoon hours, when many wildfires ignite, but which are insufficiently covered by other infrared imaging satellites.[34]

The development of FOREST-3 was funded by DLR via ESA's InCubed programme managed by the agency's ɸ-lab.[35] The satellite was launched on 14 January 2025 on the Falcon 9 flight Transporter-12.[36][37] FOREST-3 is OroraTech's first fully internally developed spacecraft[26] and a precursor for a larger constellation of wildfire-detecting satellites planned by OroraTech.[38]

FOREST-16, 17, 18, 19

On 3 May 2026, four satellites (FOREST-16 to19)[39] were launched for the EU-funded, ESA-coordinated Greek National Microsatellite Program of the Hellenic Space Center on Falcon 9's CAS500-2 rideshare mission. These satellites form the Hellenic Fire System,[40] the country's first dedicated satellite constellation for wildfire detection and monitoring.[41][42][43]

FOREST constellation satellites
Name COSPAR ID Satellite bus Launch date Launch vehicle Launch site Orbit Note
FOREST-1 (Lemur-2 Rohovithsa)[44] 2022-002BE 6U CubeSat (enlarged Lemur-2) 13 January 2022 Falcon 9 SLC-40 SSO Decay: 3 August 2024[45]
FOREST-2 (Lemur-2 Embrionovis)[46] 2023-084AQ 6U CubeSat (enlarged Lemur-2) 12 June 2023 Falcon 9 SLC-4E SSO
FOREST-3[47] 2025-009CB 8U CubeSat 14 January 2025, 19:09 UTC Falcon 9 SLC-4E SSO Transporter-12
FOREST-16 2026-100AF 8U CubeSat 3 May 2026, 7:00 UTC Falcon 9 SLC-40 SSO Hellenic Fire System;[40] operated by the Hellenic Space Center as part of the Greek National Microsatellite Program;[48][49] launched on CAS500-2 rideshare mission.[50][51][52][53]
FOREST-17 2026-100X
FOREST-18 2026-100AD
FOREST-19 2026-100AE

References

  1. ↑ Hamarat, Iclal (2026-02-01). "“The truth comes from space”". Detusche Bank. https://www.db.com/what-next/digital-disruption/space-economy/ororatech/index?language_id=1. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Gläsemann, Andrea (2019-06-27). "Aus dem Weltall Feuer löschen" (in de). Forbes (Wien). https://www.forbes.at/artikel/aus-dem-weltall-feuer-loeschen.html. 
  3. ↑ "New Space companies join Copernicus" (in en). European Space Agency. 2023-06-16. https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/New_Space_companies_join_Copernicus. [full citation needed]
  4. ↑ "AUS DEM WELTALL FEUER LÖSCHEN" (in de). 2019-06-27. https://www.forbes.at/artikel/aus-dem-weltall-feuer-loeschen. 
  5. ↑ "TUM Start-up Wall - TUM". https://www.tum.de/innovation/entrepreneurship/fuer-alumni-unternehmen/tum-start-up-wall?tx_solr%5Bfilter%5D%5B0%5D=category:SpaceTech&tx_solr%5Bq%5D=#foundergallery. 
  6. ↑ Höpner, Axel (2019-08-12). "Wie die Ororatech-Gründer mit Nano-Satelliten Waldbrände früher entdecken wollen" (in de). Handelsblatt (Düsseldorf). https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/mittelstand/familienunternehmer/familienunternehmen-wie-die-ororatech-gruender-mit-nano-satelliten-waldbraende-frueher-entdecken-wollen/24896286.html?ticket=ST-6448773-JAWTtIthapfyE7BakBNE-ap1. 
  7. ↑ Grübler, Thomas (2020-05-06). "Munich NewSpace Start-Up OroraTech Closes Seed Financing Round". OroraTech (press release) (Munich). https://ororatech.com/2020/05/06/munich-newspace-start-up-ororatech-closes-seed-financing-round/. 
  8. ↑ Thomas, Paul J.; Hersom, Charles H. (1995-09-29). "Space-based forest fire detection concept". Proc. SPIE. Infrared Spaceborne Remote Sensing III 2553 (Infrared Spaceborne Remote Sensing III): 104–115. doi:10.1117/12.221349. Bibcode: 1995SPIE.2553..104T. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.221349. Retrieved 2020-11-04. [non-primary source needed]
  9. ↑ Thomas, Paul J.; Hersom, Charles (1997-01-01). "Wildfire Detection with a Microsatellite". Applications of Photonic Technology. 2. pp. 633–640. doi:10.1007/978-1-4757-9250-8_99. ISBN 978-1-4757-9252-2. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9250-8_99. Retrieved 2020-11-04. [non-primary source needed]
  10. ↑ Nikolic, Momcilo (2020-07-21). "Waldbrände: OroraTech mit globalem Frühwarnsystem aus dem All" (in de). derbrutkasten (Wien). https://www.derbrutkasten.com/waldbrande-ororatech/. 
  11. ↑ Pieper, Konstantin (2020-02-18). "OroraTech revolutioniert die globale Waldbranderkennung" (in de). Raumfahrt Concret, Issue 111 (Neubrandenburg: Iniplu 2000). [third-party source needed]
  12. ↑ Heubl, Ben (2020-09-29). "Experts call for tech upgrades to help fight wildfires". E&T. Engineering and Technology (Stevenage: The Institution of Engineering and Technology). https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2020/09/why-experts-demand-new-technology-to-fight-wildfires/. Retrieved 2020-11-04. 
  13. ↑ Hurst, Luke (2020-08-24). "Firefighters Battle Record Wildfires in California After Thousands of Lightning Strikes". EuroNews.com (Lyon). https://www.euronews.com/2020/08/24/firefighters-battle-record-wildfires-in-california-after-thousands-of-lightning-strikes. 
  14. ↑ Bremner, Jade (2020-08-13). "Mosier Wildfire Map, Update as Residents Evacuate Columbia River Gorge, Oregon". Newsweek (article) (New York). https://www.newsweek.com/mosier-wildfire-map-update-residents-evacuate-columbia-river-gorge-oregon-fire-1524855. 
  15. ↑ Potenteau, Doyle (2020-05-06). "Christie Mountain Wildfire: B.C. Blaze Estimated at 2,000 Hectares; Windy Forecast a Growing Concern". GlobalNews.ca (Vancouver). https://globalnews.ca/news/7288974/christie-mountain-wildfire-2000-hectares/. 
  16. ↑ Duffield, Charlie (2020-08-31). "Arctic Wildfires Have Emitted 35% More CO2 So Far in 2020 Than the Whole of Last Year". inews (article) (London). https://inews.co.uk/news/environment/arctic-wildfires-2020-co2-emissions-whole-2019-last-year-614180. 
  17. ↑ "MOVE-II" (in en). https://www.asg.ed.tum.de/en/lrt/research-at-the-chair-of-astronautics/satellite-technology/cubesats/move-ii/. 
  18. ↑ Kulu, Erik. "MOVE-II" (in en). https://www.nanosats.eu/sat/move-ii.html. 
  19. ↑ "MOVE 2, 2b" (in en). https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/move-2.htm. 
  20. ↑ Kulu, Erik. "Lemur-2 Rohovitsa" (in en). https://www.nanosats.eu/sat/lemur-2-rohovitsa.html. 
  21. ↑ O'Neal, Arla (2020-09-08). "OroraTech transforms wildfire detection and monitoring from space". International Fire Fighter (Maperton: MDM Publishing). https://iffmag.mdmpublishing.com/ororatech-transforms-wildfire-detection-and-monitoring-from-space/. Retrieved 2020-11-04. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "FOREST-1 Mission Success: A Giant Leap for OroraTech". OroraTech (Press release). 20 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.[third-party source needed]
  23. ↑ "Mission success for OroraTech's first thermal infrared satellite FOREST-1" (in en-US). https://astrodrom.com/en/spacenews/mission-success-for-ororatechs-first-thermal-infrared-satellite-forest-1/. 
  24. ↑ Moro, Francesco Sebastiano (2024-10-29). "Spire Global and OroraTech Selected by NASA JPL to Enhance Wildfire Monitoring | Space Voyaging" (in en-US). https://www.spacevoyaging.com/news/2024/10/29/spire-global-and-ororatech-selected-by-nasa-jpl-to-enhance-wildfire-monitoring/. 
  25. ↑ "Orora Technologies". Nanosats Database. 2020-04-11. https://www.nanosats.eu/org/ororatech. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Forest (OroraTech)". https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/forest. 
  27. ↑ "Technology". OroraTech. 2020-08-07. https://ororatech.com/technology/. 
  28. ↑ "Countdown to liftoff: retracing the FOREST-2 thermal sensor launch into orbit". OroraTech (Press release). 5 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.[third-party source needed]
  29. ↑ Kulu, Erik. "Lemur-2 (Forest-2)" (in en). https://www.nanosats.eu/sat/lemur-2-forest-2.html. 
  30. ↑ "FOREST 3" (in en). https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/forest-3.htm. 
  31. ↑ "Technical details for satellite OT-FOREST-3 BJOERNTBW". https://www.n2yo.com//satellite/?s=62682. 
  32. ↑ "Big future for small satellites" (in en). https://www.dlr.de/en/media/publications/magazines/all-digital-magazines/dlrmagazine-178/big-future-for-small-satellites. 
  33. ↑ Coldewey, Devin (2024-10-16). "OroraTech's space-based wildfire detection brings in $25M to put more imaging satellites in orbit" (in en-US). https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/16/ororatechs-space-based-wildfire-detection-brings-in-25m-to-put-more-imaging-satellites-in-orbit/. 
  34. ↑ "InCubed launches highlight ESA’s support for innovation" (in en). https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/InCubed_launches_highlight_ESA_s_support_for_innovation. 
  35. ↑ "OroraTech launch FOREST-3 onboard SpaceX's mission" (in en-GB). 2025-01-15. https://fireandsafetyjournalamericas.com/ororatech-launch-forest-3-onboard-spacexs-mission/. 
  36. ↑ "FOREST-3 Satellite Launch Boosts European Wildfire Monitoring with Real-Time Thermal Imaging" (in en). https://ororatech.com/resources/news-blog/ororatech-launches-forest-3-with-spacex-their-latest-pioneering-thermal-satellite-for-wildfire-detection. 
  37. ↑ "Transporter-12 Mission" (in en). https://www.exolaunch.com/mission_32. 
  38. ↑ Rocket Lab to launch OroraTech satellites
  39. ↑ "FOREST 16, ..., 19" (in en). https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/forest-16.htm. 
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Koutroumpis, John (2026-03-10). "Greece Moves Closer to Launch New Fire Monitoring Satellites" (in en-US). https://greekreporter.com/2026/03/11/greece-fire-monitoring-satellites-launch/. 
  41. ↑ tovima.com (2026-05-03). "Greece Launches First Thermal Satellites to Boost Fire Detection and Climate Monitoring" (in el). https://www.tovima.com/science/greece-launches-first-thermal-satellites-to-boost-fire-detection-and-climate-monitoring/. 
  42. ↑ Kampouris, Nick (2026-05-03). "Greece Launches First Thermal Satellites to Combat Wildfires" (in en-US). https://greekreporter.com/2026/05/03/greece-thermal-satellites-wildfires/. 
  43. ↑ Gatti, Emma (2026-05-04). "OroraTech deploys wildfire constellation for Greece" (in en-US). SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/ororatech-deploys-wildfire-constellation-for-greece/. 
  44. ↑ "FOREST 1" (in en). https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/forest-1.htm. 
  45. ↑ "Technical details for satellite LEMUR 2 ROHOVITHSA". https://www.n2yo.com//satellite/?s=51036. 
  46. ↑ "FOREST 2" (in en). https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/forest-2.htm. 
  47. ↑ "FOREST 3" (in en). https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/forest-3.htm. 
  48. ↑ tovima.com (2026-05-03). "Greece Launches First Thermal Satellites to Boost Fire Detection and Climate Monitoring" (in el). https://www.tovima.com/science/greece-launches-first-thermal-satellites-to-boost-fire-detection-and-climate-monitoring/. 
  49. ↑ Kampouris, Nick (2026-05-03). "Greece Launches First Thermal Satellites to Combat Wildfires" (in en-US). https://greekreporter.com/2026/05/03/greece-thermal-satellites-wildfires/. 
  50. ↑ "#nova #launchwithexolaunch | Exolaunch" (in en). https://www.linkedin.com/posts/exolaunch_nova-launchwithexolaunch-activity-7454879530667827201-RMIG. 
  51. ↑ "CAS500-2 Mission" (in en). https://www.spacex.com/launches/cas500-2. 
  52. ↑ Day, Eleanor (2026-05-03). "SpaceX launches CAS500-2 and 45 other payloads to Sun-synchronous orbit" (in en-US). https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2026/05/spacex-launch-cas500-2-45-payloads-orbit/. 
  53. ↑ Maták, Juraj. "Družice". http://www.kozmo-data.sk/druzice/detail/2026-100/. 

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