Muon Space is developing an EO/IR instrument will provide comprehensive cloud characterization and theater weather imagery. Photo: Muon Space

Muon Space has received a SpaceWERX contract to advance space-based environmental monitoring capabilities. The award, announced Dec. 5, will support Muon Space’s development of a multi-mission, multispectral electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) instrument. 

Muon Space said its FireSat constellation will be a dual-use mission that supports the U.S. Department of Defense’s space-based environmental monitoring needs and monitors wildfires. FireSat is a 50-satellite constellation in the works that will operate in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). 

The EO/IR instrument Muon Space is developing is designed to provide cloud characterization and theater weather imagery, addressing gaps in space-based environmental monitoring. These capabilities have applications for global defense and national security operations.

“This award accelerates Muon’s development of a dual-use instrument that will serve both the DoD’s SBEM needs and our commercial wildfire monitoring mission, FireSat,” said Gregory Smirin, president of Muon Space. “By evolving our FireSat infrared instrument to include additional spectral bands, we can observe cloud cover as well as wildfires, creating a highly versatile instrument that can serve multiple markets.”

The award is a small business innovation research (SBIR) Phase II contract from SpaceWERX through Space Systems Command. 

[Via Satellite previously interviewed Muon Space and the Earth Fire Alliance about the FireSat constellation for the On Orbit podcast. Listen to the episode here]