Space42’s Mira Aerospace, Telespazio Ibérica Start Wildfire-Monitoring Mission In Spain
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Space42 announced that its high altitude platform systems (HAPS) subsidiary Mira Aerospace and Telespazio Ibérica, part of Leonardo Space, have started a wildfire-monitoring mission in Spain.
The mission’s first flight saw the ApusNeo18 HAPS model take off from the Canarias Stratoport for HAPS & UAS on the island of Fuerteventura, under the ISSEC project, fostered by the Fuerteventura Technology Park.
Operating for 29 hours and reaching an altitude of approximately 16,000 feet, the flight marked two European HAPS records and delivered live, high-resolution video and imagery from electro-optical and infrared sensors.
The successful flight demonstrated the HAPS model’s potential to aid wildfire detection and management, with a multi-flight campaign scheduled to follow throughout October.
Space42 in a statement said the programme will progressively increase operating altitudes towards the stratosphere and extend its flight range with the aim of reaching Gran Canaria.
The mission builds on earlier testing of the ApusNeo18 for Telespazio Ibérica, the first of its kind under civilian operational authorisation in Europe. Flights will take place based on requirements and remain subject to permits, weather and airspace availability.
The deployment comes at a crucial time for Spain’s 2026 wildfire season. According to Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, wildfires had affected more than 265,635 hectares of forest land as of Aug 17, with 42 large forest fires recorded to date.
ApusNeo18 is a solar-powered HAPS designed to operate at stratospheric altitudes while carrying Earth observation payloads. Positioned between conventional aviation and satellites, HAPS can provide persistent monitoring of specific areas while offering the flexibility to deploy sensors tailored to individual missions.
Space42 said the capability provides an additional live intelligence layer for wildfire response, alongside existing satellite, aerial and ground-based systems.
-- BERNAMA