FireSat by Muon Space: status and timeline

Milestones

Next · 50+ satellite constellation operational

First FireSat satellite in orbitQ2 2026Complete.
Three operational FireSat satellites reach orbit7 Jul 2026Complete.
FireSat initial operational capability declaredJul 2026Complete.
First light imagery releasedSep 2026Complete.
50+ satellite constellation operationalTarget 2029Not yet reached.

Most important updates

First three operational FireSat satellites reach orbit on SpaceX Transporter-177 Jul 2026

Upcoming

2027Deployment of 10+ additional FireSat satellites (next)
2028Cloud-penetrating SAR variant
202950+ satellite constellation operational

Current obstacles

Cloud cover masks firesInfrared can't see through clouds; tropical regions miss fires during rainy seasons.
Ground processing latencyProcessing imagery through AI takes minutes; fastest systems reach 10-15 min latency.

Physics limits

Infrared resolution is limited by wavelength and diffractionA 5x5 meter fire is near the practical limit for a satellite at 600 km using infrared; seeing smaller fires requires lower orbit, larger telescopes, or different wavelengths.
Orbital mechanics sets revisit frequencyA single satellite passes over any point on Earth once per day; to see the same fire zone every 15 minutes requires 96 satellites in the constellation, a major cost driver.

How it works

4 parts

Multispectral imaging

Six infrared channels detect hot spots

Six-channel multispectral camera images fire-prone regions; thermal signatures distinguish active fires from artifacts like roofs or reflected sunlight.

AI filtering

Google's ML reduces false alarms

Google's ML systems process imagery to distinguish real fires from false positives, improving alert accuracy sent to fire departments.

Rapid updates

15-minute revisit time over key zones

A full constellation of 50+ satellites orbiting at 600 km can image fire-prone regions every 15 minutes, catching small fires before they spread.

Direct alerts

Real-time alerts to emergency response

Detected fires reported directly to fire agencies and NGOs, bypassing media and reaching responders at orbital speed.

Spec sheet

Spec	FireSat
Current constellation size	3 satellites^R (reported)
Planned final constellation	50+ satellites^R (reported)
Orbital altitude	600 km^R (reported)
Minimum detectable fire size	5 m x 5 m^R (reported)
Target update frequency	Every 15-20 minutes^R (reported)
Multispectral infrared channels	6 channels^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Papers & demos

1 item

10 Sep 2026demo
First in-space firing of zinc-fueled Hall-effect thruster (SERT-III) (opens muonspace.com)Demonstrates solid-metal propellant as a safer, cheaper alternative to xenon; eliminates pressure tanks and plumbing.

Update log

1 update

Tue 7 Jul

Major: First three operational FireSat satellites reach orbit on SpaceX Transporter-17PressHardware

About Muon Space

The team behind FireSat

Muon Space

FireSat constellation, wildfire detection, Earth observation

Muon Space designs, builds, and operates satellite constellations for national security, commercial, and civil customers. The company integrates spacecraft platforms, payloads, AI-powered mission design, manufacturing, and managed orbital services through its Mission Foundry framework.

11 spacecraft launched across 6 missions; FireSat IOC reached July 2026 with 3 satellites.
First zinc-fueled Hall thruster fired in space (July 2026, announced Sept); no pressure tanks or toxic propellants.
130,000 sq ft advanced manufacturing facility in San Jose opened June 2026; 500+ satellite/year capacity.

muonspace.com (opens muonspace.com)Company profile →

Founded: 20215 yrs
Headquarters: United States
Status: Private
Valuation: private
Staff: ~200Sep 2026
Raised: $171M3 rounds
Last round: Series B1 · $90MJun 2025
Works in: SpaceflightSatellites
Coverage: 1 program · 6 updateslatest 10 Sep 2026checked 10 Oct
Lead investors: Congruent VenturesActivate CapitalRadical Ventures
Customers: Earth Fire Alliance (opens earthfirealliance.org)SpaceX (opens spacex.com)
Partners: Google (opens research.google)
People: Jonny Dyer (opens en.wikipedia.org)CEO and Co-founderDan McCleeseCo-founderPaul DayCo-founder

Spec

FireSat

Current constellation size

3 satellites^R (reported)

Planned final constellation

50+ satellites^R (reported)

Orbital altitude

600 km^R (reported)

Minimum detectable fire size

5 m x 5 m^R (reported)

Target update frequency

Every 15-20 minutes^R (reported)

Multispectral infrared channels

6 channels^R (reported)