A Google-backed weapon to battle wildfires made it into orbit

The first satellite of the Google-backed FireSat constellation has launched, marking the beginning of a new era in wildfire detection. When fully operational in 2026, over 50 satellites will image Earth's surface every 20 minutes. The constellation's six-band multispectral infrared cameras are specifically designed to detect wildfires, providing five-meter resolution imagery. This technology aims to offer firefighters near real-time updates on fire behavior and location, addressing limitations of current wildfire tracking methods.