Spacecraft for the First Thermal Livestream of Earth Launched
OroraTech and Kepler Collaborating on the Project
Four SAFIRE Gen4 sensor packages developed by OroaTech were among the payloads launched aboard the SpaceX Twilight rideshare mission. The sensors were aboard Kepler Communications’ next-generation satellites deployed by the mission.
“Together with industry partners, we are setting a new global standard for real-time intelligence.”
Martin Langer, OroraTech
This launch establishes the path to creating the first-ever thermal livestream of Earth using Kepler’s advanced communication technology. Relayed by their fast optical comms network, OroraTech’s thermal insights, computed on-orbit, will be provided to customers on the ground as persistent, real-time infrared data from orbit, enabling fast wildfire detections and thermal data.
“OroraTech is leading the way by delivering the first thermal livestream of the Earth, leveraging Kepler’s always-connected satellite network to have the Earth’s thermal signature in real-time at a global scale,” said Martin Langer, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer of OroraTech. “Together with industry partners, we are setting a new global standard for real-time intelligence.”
By hosting SAFIRE Gen4 on Kepler’s next-generation satellite network, OroraTech enables near-real-time delivery of wildfire intelligence from space to Earth. Thermal data captured in orbit is routed across the satellite constellation and downlinked within minutes, dramatically improving the speed and global reach of wildfire detection. Each 300-kilogram-class (≈660 pound) satellite is equipped with an advanced networking system that minimizes data delays by intelligently routing information between satellites and ground stations. As a result, OroraTech’s proven wildfire monitoring capabilities benefit from fewer detection gaps and faster response times worldwide.
“OroraTech is defining the global standard for live environmental intelligence,” said Mina Mitry, CEO & Co-Founder of Kepler. “By leveraging our payload hosting capacity, high-throughput optical communications, and edge compute infrastructure, this partnership demonstrates how the industry can break new ground and deliver on the promise of real-time access to data.”
OroraTech’s proprietary SAFIRE Gen4 sensor is a flexible, space-qualified thermal imaging system designed for durability and compatibility across nearly any orbital platform. The SAFIRE family of thermal sensors is flight-proven on both OroraTech and partner satellites currently in orbit, making it the most widely deployed commercial thermal imaging solution to date. Integrated with Kepler satellites, the latest Gen4 sensors deliver the fastest thermal anomaly detection available, providing high-resolution data that significantly enhances environmental monitoring and analysis.