In this Space Café episode from the 62nd Munich Security Conference, SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening visits OroraTech co-founder Thomas Grübler for an up-close look at one of Germany’s most dynamic New Space companies – and its expanding mission beyond wildfire detection.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
🛰️ OroraTech’s satellite – A hands-on look at the satellite model, featuring dual thermal infrared cameras with a 400 km swath, capturing 78 million square kilometers per day – enough to image the entire globe twice daily with just eight satellites.
🤖 AI in orbit – OroraTech runs AI models directly on its satellites using onboard Nvidia GPUs, pushing software updates every few weeks and even comparing traditional vs. AI-based detection models in space.
🔥➡️🛡️ From wildfires to dual use – Once firmly civilian-only, OroraTech has embraced dual-use applications. The same thermal infrared technology that detects car-sized fires in a 200-meter pixel can also track ships, monitor maritime traffic, and potentially detect missile launches.
🚢 Ships in the Suez Canal – Using existing satellite data, OroraTech discovered it can already detect vessels of 100 meters and larger, opening the door to maritime domain awareness as a new service – without reprogramming a single satellite.
🌡️ The power of thermal – Why thermal imaging has unique advantages: sub-pixel detection of heat signatures, night-time capability, temperature accuracy on par with major Copernicus missions, and relative precision down to 0.1 Kelvin.
💶 Germany’s €35 billion opportunity – How the country’s massive defense investment is reshaping the market for startups like OroraTech, creating what amounts to a second institutional space market alongside ESA.
🇺🇸 OroraTech USA – The company’s expansion into the US market from its Denver, Colorado base, serving clients from county fire departments to federal agencies, utilities, and insurers – just as the US restructures its national fire services.
📈 What’s next for 2026 – Greek constellation launch imminent, growing dual-use services, potential new investment round, and the vision to track ships anywhere on the globe up to 10 times a day.
