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04/05/2026
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A constellation of four new satellites has been launched for Greece, marking a world first for a national satellite capability dedicated to wildfire detection and tracking. The mission is the result of cooperation between the Greek government, private satellite company OroraTech and the European Space Agency (ESA), supported through the EU-funded Recovery and Resilience Facility.
The four CubeSats were carried into orbit aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 CAS500-2 mission, which lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on 3 May 2026 as part of a multimission payload.
Following the launch of two ICEYE radar satellites launched at the end of last year, the Hellenic Fire System, developed by OroraTech, is the second operational Earth observation mission developed under the Greek National Small Satellite Programme. The programme will ultimately consist of 13 satellites organised into four groups based on their instruments and mission objectives.
Funded by Greece through the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility, the programme is intended to expand national satellite technologies and services, support innovation and economic growth, and strengthen capabilities in disaster response, environmental monitoring and national security.
One of Hellenic Fire System satellites
The Hellenic Space Center and the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence oversee the programme, while ESA provides the overarching framework and technical support for development of the satellite systems.
Director of ESA’s Earth Observation Programmes, Simonetta Cheli, said, “The Hellenic Fire System is a powerful example of what can be achieved through collaboration.
“By bringing together the Greek government, industry and ESA, the Hellenic Fire System shows how European cooperation can turn innovation into operational capability. It demonstrates the value of partnership in developing sovereign space solutions that serve national needs while advancing shared goals.”
Developed to provide sovereign, space-based thermal monitoring, the Hellenic Fire System will help address Greece’s growing exposure to devastating wildfires through reliable detection, monitoring and characterisation of fire activity, with systematic coverage across the country.
Each satellite is based on an 8U CubeSat platform and equipped with a deployable solar panel measuring 42 × 22 cm. The satellites carry two infrared imagers operating in the midwave and longwave infrared spectral bands, enabling them to capture imagery over Greece and other areas of interest to detect active fires, identify thermal anomalies and assess fire radiative intensity.
Two Hellenic Fire System satellites in a cleanroom
Together, the satellites will support early detection of emerging hotspots and continuous monitoring of fire behaviour through precise measurement of thermal emissions.
Greece’s Minister of Digital Governance and AI, Dimitrios Papastergiou, said, “Following on from the two radar satellites that were launched at the end of last year, the four new satellites part of the Hellenic Fire System constellation is another significant step forward for Greece’s ability to monitor and protect key areas of interest.
“Today marks a major step forward in strengthening Greece’s national resilience against wildfires. By integrating space-based capabilities into our emergency response systems, we are equipping our fire services with the tools they need to respond faster, act more effectively, and protect lives, property, and the environment.”
The constellation is now being closely monitored by OroraTech, who will ensure that the satellites are fully commissioned and ready for service in a few months.
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