18 February 2026 – Loft announced it has signed a contract with the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (SmartSat CRC) to deploy a wildfire detection application to Loft’s on-orbit satellites. The project will serve as a high-tech demonstration of near real-time, software-based wildfire detection from low Earth orbit. This mission is designed to validate the software’s functionality and performance in the space environment, providing a critical proof-of-concept for low-latency early detection of small smoke signatures. The application uses hyperspectral signatures to identify and distinguish smoke from standard cloud cover or fog, allowing early detection of small fires that can build to large wildfire events. The collaboration will explore the potential operationalization of the capability for emergency services, both by Australian and international wildfire management organizations, leveraging Loft’s growing infrastructure of AI-enabled space assets. Read more