Spire and OroraTech to demo wildfire detection from space for Canadian Space Agency

Spire and OroraTech to demo wildfire detection from space for Canadian Space Agency
by Staff Writers
Vienna VA (SPX) May 10, 2023
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has awarded a contract to Spire Global's newly acquired subsidiary, ExactEarth Ltd., for preparatory work on its WildFireSat mission. The mission aims to monitor all active wildfires in Canada from space on a daily basis to support wildfire management, provide Canadians with more precise information on smoke and air quality conditions, and more accurately measure the carbon emitted by wildfires. The initial contract will deliver preparatory work for implementation phases of the mission.

To make this project a reality, Spire will partner with OroraTech, the global industry leader in space-based thermal intelligence. The two companies have previously worked together on the successful launch of OroraTech's wildfire detection and monitoring mission on a Spire satellite in 2022.

The economic impact of wildfires in Canada is significant, with global wildfire losses from 2018-2022 totaling $69 billion, according to Munich Re. Canada spends around $1 billion every year fighting wildfires, with indirect costs estimated to be several times higher due to resulting property destruction, infrastructure damage, evacuations, health-related expenses, and wider economic losses across business sectors such as forestry, energy, and tourism.

The WildFireSat mission will benefit the country's forestry industry, wildfire managers, emergency services, and Canadian communities, all of which are frequently impacted by wildfires. In 2016, the Fort McMurray wildfire alone led to a total cost of around $9 billion, making it the most expensive natural disaster in Canadian history.

The partnership between Spire and OroraTech is a significant milestone in wildfire detection and monitoring. OroraTech created the first global wildfire intelligence service for commercial and institutional customers, and its partnership with Spire enabled the company to validate its initial concept quickly and cost-effectively. With Spire's support, OroraTech has been able to advance towards its plan to provide data insights to its customers every 30 minutes and within three minutes from detection at any place on Earth.

"We are delighted to be collaborating with OroraTech on another exciting project, building upon the momentum generated from our previous mission together," said Frank Frulio, General Manager of Spire Space Services. "At Spire, we have a strong track record of demonstrating the benefits that space can bring to life on Earth, and I can't think of a more important and critical application than protecting our environment, people, and property from destructive wildfires. We look forward to supporting the Canadian Space Agency on this important issue."

The WildFireSat mission is expected to commence in spring 2024, with the project set to be delivered in 2029. The use of cutting-edge satellite technology to improve wildfire monitoring and early detection methods is further testament to the importance of space exploration and its benefits for life on Earth. Data can be captured from remote areas of the world and processed quickly to identify current and future risks.