Eutelsat and OroraTech have announced a strategic partnership that will see thermal infrared payloads deployed across Eutelsat’s future Low Earth Orbit infrastructure, expanding satellite based monitoring capabilities for applications including wildfire detection.
Under the agreement, OroraTech has reserved capacity for 48 payloads, with an option for a further 48. This creates the potential for up to 96 thermal sensors to be hosted on Eutelsat satellites.
Thermal monitoring network to expand
The partnership combines Eutelsat’s European satellite infrastructure with OroraTech’s thermal sensing technology, payloads and analytics platform.
Increasing the number of thermal sensors in orbit is intended to improve revisit rates and reduce the time between observations, potentially allowing thermal events to be identified and monitored more frequently.
For wildfire applications, greater observation frequency can support the detection and continued monitoring of developing fires and provide thermal information to organisations responsible for assessing incidents.
Hosted payload model supports growth
Rather than deploying a dedicated spacecraft for every sensor, OroraTech will use hosted payload capacity aboard Eutelsat satellites.
The approach is intended to allow the company to expand its sensing network while distributing its thermal payloads across a broader satellite infrastructure.
OroraTech said this would also increase the resilience of its constellation and place a significant part of its future expansion on European infrastructure.
Data supports multiple applications
The thermal payloads continuously collect data and are designed to support multiple applications and customers using the same underlying infrastructure.
Alongside wildfire detection and monitoring, potential applications include critical infrastructure monitoring, maritime awareness, environmental intelligence and security.
Expanding the number of sensors could therefore increase the amount and frequency of thermal information available across different geographical areas and operational requirements.
European space cooperation
The partnership was announced at the International Space Summit in Paris and brings together capabilities from France and Germany.
Eutelsat and OroraTech said the agreement demonstrates how European satellite infrastructure and sensing technology can be combined to expand thermal intelligence capabilities through cross border industrial cooperation.
Martin Langer, CEO of OroraTech, said: “This partnership is about moving from satellites to infrastructure. Eutelsat has built a unique European LEO infrastructure, while OroraTech has built the world’s leading operational thermal intelligence capability.
“By combining both, we create a credible path toward persistent, low-latency thermal intelligence at global scale – built in Europe and available to European sovereign customers.”
Jean-François Fallacher, Chief Executive Officer, Eutelsat, said: “The severe wildfires experienced in France, Germany, and elsewhere in Europe this summer highlight the growing threat facing communities and the environment.
“We are pleased to work with OroraTech to embark its detection technology aboard our future satellites and contribute to efforts to identify fires earlier.
“This partnership will also extend the use of our LEO satellites into an important new area, complementing the role our connectivity can play in supporting emergency teams on the ground.”
