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On Thursday, March 3rd 2022, the Coordinator for German Aerospace Dr. Anna Christmann, along with Dieter Janeck, the economic policy spokesperson for the Green Party, visited NewSpace start-up OroraTech to see their progress in satellite development at their new office in Munich East. 

During the launch of OroraTech’s first satellite in January, Dr. Christmann reiterated in a video message the importance of innovations in Earth observation to monitor and mitigate the effects of global climate change. OroraTech processes a wide variety of external satellite data to better monitor wildfires around the globe.

“Wildfires show us a strong connection with climate change,” says Björn Stoffers, Co-founder of OroraTech. “Extended drought periods heighten the risk of fires, which emit an incredible amount of CO2, and continue to fuel global warming, all creating a vicious cycle.” OroraTech’s system is already being used by customers around the world; in commercial forestry, by wildfire services, NGOs, and insurance companies - over 160 million hectares of forests are monitored around the clock. Their own satellite data will substantially increase coverage in the future.

During Dr. Christmann’s visit last week, OroraTech’s team showcased their new thermal-infrared camera that will be used on their second satellite. Supported by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the European Space Agency (ESA), the company will launch eight additional satellites into orbit within the next two years, allowing them to gather invaluable data on the Earth’s surface temperature. Dr. Christamann’s visit signals a continuing effort to enhance collaborations between the federal government and innovative German space companies.