Earth Fire Alliance Launches Google-Backed FireSat Constellation

A new constellation of satellites designed specifically to identify wildfires has reached orbit, coinciding with widespread smoke impacting North America. The Earth Fire Alliance successfully deployed the first three operational FireSat microsatellites via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on July 7, 2026.

This launch establishes the initial operational capability for the network. Following a planned three-month testing and validation phase, the satellites will begin transmitting data to fire agencies. Once fully active, the system is expected to monitor every fire-prone region on Earth at a frequency of at least twice daily.

The FireSat constellation is engineered to detect wildfires, with a specific focus on identifying smaller blazes that might be overlooked by traditional satellite infrastructure. The hardware for these microsatellites was designed by Muon Space, a manufacturer based in California.

Significant financial backing for the project has come from the technology sector. Alphabet Inc. has provided over $15 million to support the initial deployment through its research arm. Additionally, the Bezos Earth Fund has committed $26 million to the initiative.

The deployment of these satellites comes at a critical time as smoke from hundreds of fires continues to affect air quality across Canada and the United States. Operational coverage is anticipated to extend to the United States, Australia, and Europe before the conclusion of the year.

Source: original release

What to watch

• Completion of the three-month testing period and data validation.
• Official start date for data transmission to fire agencies in the US, Australia, and Europe.
• Future announcements regarding additional satellite launches to expand the constellation.