Rocket Lab Launches Eight Wildfire Detection Satellites for OroraTech

Rocket Lab’s successfully launched mission “Finding Hot Wildfires Near You”. The mission lifted off aboard the Electron rocket on March 26th, 2025, at 15:30 UTC from Launch Complex 1 (LC-1), Pad B, Mahia, New Zealand. The launcher carried a batch of eight satellites for the German OroraTech wildfire detection constellation.

After a successful liftoff, the Electron’s first stage separated from the second stage two and a half minutes into the flight. 47 minutes later, the kick stage’s Curie engine ignited for less than two minutes. Nearly 52 minutes after launch, Exolaunch’s EXOpod systems gradually deployed the eight payloads into a 550km circular Earth orbit with a 97-degree inclination.

Lift-off! Electron is on its way to space for @ororatech’s wildfire detection mission. pic.twitter.com/FG2gBqksQM

— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) March 26, 2025

“Finding Hot Wildfires Near You” is Rocket Lab’s fifth mission of 2025 and 63^rd Electron launch overall. It brings the total number of satellites delivered to space by Electron to 224.

Electron’s speed

The mission occurred just four months from the launch contract signing. The accelerated timeline allowed Rocket Lab to meet the time-sensitive requirements of OroraTech’s wildfire detection mission.

“This launch is a showcase of all the benefits of flying dedicated on Electron: control over schedule, agility, and ability to meet tight deadlines and mission requirements, and the reliability of launching on the world’s most frequently launched small orbital rocket. Knowing that time is of the essence to get these satellites in space, we’re proud to be rising to the challenge and supporting the OroraTech mission to better monitor for and protect against these devastating natural disasters globally,” stated Sir Peter Beck, Founder and CEO of Rocket Lab.

Wildfire detection

OroraTech operates a constellation of satellites that provides data to firefighters and emergency personnel before, during, and after a wildfire. Thanks to its 25+ public and proprietary satellites, its Wildfire Solution platform detects, tracks, and predicts wildfires worldwide.

Their wildfire suite can analyze current ground conditions and predict the outbreak of a fire, its propagation speed, and direction. It can operate regardless of weather conditions and can help determine the damage to begin rebuilding and reforesting efforts. Wildfire Solution’s technology is based on thermal infrared imaging through sensors mounted on the satellites.

The batch of eight satellites, called “OroraTech Constellation Phase One” aims to cover a time gap known as the “Afternoon Gap”, during which fires start most often and rage the hottest, uncovered by satellites until today. The company aims to launch 100+ satellites into orbit in the next five years to provide constant monitoring and reduce the time gaps to 30 minutes.