Rocket Lab, a leading provider of small satellite launch services, is preparing for a fast-turnaround mission that showcases its ability to deploy satellites quickly. The company will launch eight fire-spotting satellites for OroraTech, a German-based company specializing in space-based wildfire detection and monitoring. This mission, titled “Finding Hot Wildfires Near You,” is scheduled to take place just four months after the contract was finalized, demonstrating the increasing demand for rapid satellite deployment.
Mission Overview
Launch Details
The launch is set for March 27, 2025, from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. The mission will use Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket to deploy OroraTech’s satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) at an altitude of 550 km. This orbit provides consistent daylight conditions, making it ideal for wildfire monitoring.
With this mission, Rocket Lab will mark its fifth launch of 2025 and the 63rd overall launch of the Electron rocket. The addition of these satellites will bring the total number of payloads deployed by Rocket Lab to 224, further solidifying the company’s role in responsive small satellite deployment.
Payload and Objectives
The mission will carry eight Phase 1 satellites developed by OroraTech. These satellites are equipped with thermal infrared cameras designed to detect and track wildfires around the world. By using infrared imaging, they can spot heat anomalies and send near-real-time data to emergency response teams, government agencies, and environmental researchers.
The wildfire detection satellites will support:
- Early wildfire identification, allowing agencies to react before fires spread.
- Real-time tracking, offering updated fire movement data.
- Risk assessment and prevention, helping local governments and businesses manage fire-prone areas.
- Climate monitoring, gathering temperature trends and wildfire statistics to support environmental research.
OroraTech: The Satellite Operator
OroraTech, based in Munich, Germany, is a space-based data analytics company focused on wildfire detection and environmental monitoring. Founded in 2018, the company has developed thermal imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to improve wildfire forecasting and response.
OroraTech’s Technology
The company’s satellites use high-resolution thermal imaging sensors to detect heat signatures from wildfires. Unlike traditional optical sensors, which require daylight and clear skies, these thermal sensors can detect fires through smoke and at night. The satellites are connected to an AI-powered data processing platform that filters out false alarms, analyzes temperature anomalies, and generates real-time alerts for first responders.
OroraTech’s wildfire monitoring system integrates with other satellite constellations, weather models, and ground-based sensors to improve detection accuracy. The company’s goal is to build a global fire monitoring network that provides continuous coverage for wildfire-prone regions.
Expansion of the OroraTech Constellation
The upcoming Rocket Lab mission is part of OroraTech’s phased approach to building a dedicated fire-monitoring satellite network. The company launched its first operational satellite, FOREST-1, in 2022 aboard a SpaceX Transporter rideshare mission. With the launch of eight additional satellites, OroraTech will be able to increase the frequency of fire detection updates and improve global wildfire coverage.
Looking ahead, OroraTech plans to deploy a full constellation of over 100 satellites by 2027. Once operational, this network will deliver continuous real-time wildfire monitoring, higher-resolution thermal imaging, and AI-powered early detection capabilities to help mitigate fire-related disasters.
Rocket Lab’s Launch Capabilities
Rocket Lab has established itself as a go-to provider for dedicated small satellite launches, offering frequent, flexible access to space for commercial, scientific, and government customers. The Electron rocket, first launched in 2017, is designed for small payloads and rapid turnaround missions, allowing satellite operators to deploy constellations quickly.
For this mission, Rocket Lab is demonstrating its ability to integrate payloads and launch on short notice. Many large launch providers require lead times of 12 to 24 months, but Rocket Lab’s streamlined process enables customers like OroraTech to go from contract to launch in just four months.
The Launch Complex 1 facility in New Zealand provides ideal conditions for sun-synchronous orbit launches, enabling precise deployment of Earth observation satellites. Rocket Lab’s ability to place satellites in specific orbital configurations ensures that OroraTech’s constellation will be positioned for maximum effectiveness.
Summary
The collaboration between Rocket Lab and OroraTech highlights the growing role of commercial space technology in addressing real-world environmental challenges. By rapidly deploying wildfire monitoring satellites, OroraTech is taking a major step toward building a robust fire detection network that can help save lives and property.
Rocket Lab’s fast-paced launch services continue to attract satellite operators that need responsive, reliable access to orbit. With this latest mission, both companies are proving that space-based solutions can provide timely, data-driven responses to global wildfire threats—and that rapid satellite deployment is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.
