Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently thanked Elon Musk-led space company SpaceX for launching the first FireSat satellite, part of an AI-powered constellation designed to detect and track wildfires. In a recent post, the Google CEO shared details about the mission, highlighting its potential impact on wildfire monitoring and prevention. “We have liftoff! After a successful launch this weekend, the first FireSat satellite is now orbiting Earth,” Pichai wrote. He explained that the satellite is the first in a planned constellation of over 50 satellites, designed to detect wildfires as small as 5×5 meters using AI.
Pichai specifically thanked SpaceX for providing the launch vehicle that carried FireSat into orbit, alongside partners Muon Space, Earth Fire Alliance, and the Moore Foundation. “Huge thanks to partners @MuonSpace @EarthFireAll @MooreFound, and special thanks to @SpaceX for the ride! Here’s a look at the satellite on the launch pad (it’s behind the yellow rectangle).”
What is FireSat that Sundar Pichai posted about on X
FireSat is a purpose-built satellite constellation, being built by Google Research in partnership with the Earth Fire Alliance, the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation and Muon Space. This project builds on Google’s broader environmental efforts, like water replenishment programs, but contrasts with its reticence to disclose AI’s energy impact, as noted in its 2024 environmental report, highlighting the tech giant’s complex role in climate tech innovation.
The FireSat satellite launch, announced by Sundar Pichai, is part of a planned constellation of over 50 satellites for detecting wildfires as small as 5×5 meters using AI, following a $13 million investment from Google.org announced in 2024. The satellite, launched via SpaceX, uses advanced sensors and AI to compare real-time imagery with historical data, factoring in local weather and infrastructure to identify fires quickly, building on Google’s 2024 partnership with wildfire authorities to enhance global fire tracking.