“The truth comes from space”

When the What Next editorial team first profiled OroraTech two years ago, the company was a young Munich-based team with an ambitious goal: to use miniature satellites to capture thermal images of Earth every 30 minutes, aiming to detect wildfires more quickly.

Even then, the situation was concerning: dried-out soil, high temperatures, and so-called “zombie fires” in the northern regions of our planet signalled the increasing risk of fires and their contribution to climate change.

The target date is shifting a little. At the same time, demand is growing and coming from more industries than we anticipated: the need for high-frequency thermal imaging is rising faster than we expected. It's now not only about 30-minute intervals, but even shorter cycles for faster updates.

We have the world’s largest fleet of thermal imaging satellites. By the end of 2027, we aim to have built a constellation of 100 satellites.

We are growing steadily – and have already achieved a lot. Since March 2025, in partnership with US aerospace companies Spire Global and Rocket Lab, we have had a constellation* of eight of our own satellites in space to closely detect and monitor wildfires worldwide. Including our partners, that number rises to 15. This is now the world’s largest fleet of thermal imaging satellites.

By the end of 2027, we aim to have built a constellation* of 100 satellites.

Indeed, space projects are complex. Large-scale ventures like this are only possible with strong partners, each an expert in their own field. We have also worked closely for years with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and, in June, received a licence from them for an AI-based method to detect and monitor wildfires from space.

It’s essential. Ultimately, it’s not about launching as much hardware as possible into space, but about obtaining the most useful data for people on Earth. Our clients and the industry as a whole are moving rapidly towards AI-supported decision-making. For example, I believe it’s realistic that control centres will soon have dedicated “AI operators” who independently analyse data and provide recommendations for action, enabling managers to make immediate decisions.

Ultimately, customer trust depends on the quality of the data a company collects, analyses, and processes. At OroraTech, we have our own satellite constellations and also license top-quality external data, as with the DLR. This combination allows us to gather and analyse first-class data, which will only become more important in future.

Reliable data will become the critical limiting factor.

Reliable data will become the critical limiting factor. For generative AI models to deliver trustworthy results, we must retain strategic control over the raw data. In other words, independent, tamper-proof sensors that provide this data are becoming ever more valuable. One thing is certain: in the future, the truth about Earth will come from space – and the demand for this 'ground truth from space' will rise significantly.

Thanks to our ESA-funded satellite development, OroraTech has deep expertise and full control over crucial components. At the same time, alternative supply chains make us resilient and agile. We do not just operate our infrastructure; we design it ourselves.

Investment in the Space Economy is increasingly following classic market mechanisms. Investors expect returns comparable to those in other sectors. Companies are in direct competition and must demonstrate economic viability. Innovation, scalability, and diversification are key. Only those able to prove sustainable business models will succeed in the long term. As investors trust us and we want to continue growing, we are already targeting another funding round in 2026.

We now have a structured innovation process to systematically explore the market. So far, we’ve focused on wildfire-related sectors such as energy infrastructure and CO₂ projects, which directly benefit from fire data. For example, our technology helps energy providers detect fire risks early and minimise downtime.

The CO₂ market also holds huge potential. Issues with CO₂ certificates, such as lack of transparency or varying standards for offsetting emissions, show how valuable independent, satellite-based data is in large and remote regions.

The German government plans to invest 35 billion euros in space infrastructure – a political turning point. At the same time, satellites are becoming commonplace in the private market: communication services like Starlink show that space infrastructure is not only scalable and competitive, but often superior to ground-based systems. We are now seeing a similar trend in Earth observation, where satellites are increasingly complementing or even replacing local measuring stations, aircraft, and drones.

Already today, space technologies are essential in almost all industries.

Already today, space technologies are essential in almost all industries. For direct end-user applications, they will become mainstream when data can be used fully automatically. AI-supported analysis, warning systems, and intuitive interfaces are already providing broad access – even if many people don’t realise their information comes from space.

For instance, millions use space-based data through navigation services or weather apps. That’s just the beginning: as the technology becomes part of everyday life, the possibilities will grow exponentially.

Space infrastructure is increasingly seen as security-relevant. Many countries, like Canada, require local registration and operations.

As for Greece, we recently secured a 20 million euro contract to support the country’s first national wildfire monitoring system from space. Our Athens office meets regulatory requirements, supports technology transfer in the region, and offers a good environment for our team.

For us as a company, such national programmes have another advantage: they prove at the highest level that our products are effective. If a government uses a particular technology for its infrastructure, it automatically gains international relevance. This sends a strong market signal to other countries.

The Space Economy is global – and will remain so.

The Space Economy is global – and will remain so. Companies need local teams to comply with regulations, but they also need global structures, as satellites operate worldwide. The future model is therefore 'glocal': a global platform with local adaptation.

The outlook is good. Europe has strong research, engineering, and effective government programmes. There’s real demand for space applications. Companies like OroraTech are meeting this demand, proving that space technology is no longer just a vision but already a scalable reality. This lays the foundation for a continental innovation ecosystem.