Rocket Lab Schedules Electron Launch on a Rapid Turnaround for OroraTech Wildfire Detection Mission
Rocket Lab, a leading provider of small satellite launch services, is preparing for a rapid-turnaround mission that underscores its capability to swiftly deploy satellites. The company is set to launch eight fire-spotting satellites for OroraTech, a German-based global provider of wildfire detection and monitoring solutions. The mission, titled “Finding Hot Wildfires Near You,” is scheduled to launch during a window that opens on March 27th, just four months after the contract's finalization, highlighting the increasing demand for expedited satellite deployment.
Mission Overview
Launch Details
The launch is slated for March 27, 2025, from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. Utilizing Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket, OroraTech’s satellites will be deployed into a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) at an altitude of 550 km. This orbit provides consistent daylight conditions, making it ideal for wildfire monitoring.
This mission marks Rocket Lab’s 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 globally. By utilizing infrared imaging, they can identify 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, enabling agencies to react before fires spread.
Real-time tracking, offering updated fire movement data.
Risk assessment and prevention, assisting local governments and businesses in managing fire-prone areas.
Climate monitoring, collecting temperature trends and wildfire statistics to support environmental research.
OroraTech: The Satellite Operator
OroraTech, headquartered 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 enhance wildfire forecasting and response.
OroraTech’s Technology
The company's satellites utilize 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 during nighttime. 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 aims to build a global fire monitoring network that provides continuous coverage for wildfire-prone regions.
Check out a demonstration of OroraTech’s FireSpread 2.0 solution
Expansion of the OroraTech Constellation
The forthcoming Rocket Lab mission is part of OroraTech’s phased approach to establishing 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 enhance 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 mitigate fire-related disasters.
Rocket Lab’s Launch Capabilities
Rocket Lab has cemented itself as a premier provider of dedicated small satellite launches, offering frequent and 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 quickly deploy constellations.
For this mission, Rocket Lab is demonstrating its ability to integrate payloads and launch on short notice. While many large launch providers require lead times of 12 to 24 months, Rocket Lab’s streamlined process enables customers like OroraTech to transition from contract to launch in just four months.
The Launch Complex 1 facility in New Zealand provides optimal conditions for sun-synchronous orbit launches, ensuring precise deployment of Earth observation satellites. Rocket Lab’s proficiency in placing satellites in specific orbital configurations ensures that OroraTech’s constellation will be positioned for maximum effectiveness.
Summary
The collaboration between Rocket Lab and OroraTech underscores the growing role of commercial space technology in addressing critical environmental challenges. By rapidly deploying wildfire monitoring satellites, OroraTech is taking significant strides toward building a robust fire detection network aimed at saving lives and property.
Rocket Lab’s accelerated launch services continue to attract satellite operators in need of responsive, reliable access to orbit. This latest mission exemplifies how space-based solutions can offer timely, data-driven responses to global wildfire threats, proving that rapid satellite deployment has become essential rather than optional.