Natural Resources Canada has released the sixth edition of the WildFireSat e-Bulletin, providing new open-access training resources for fire managers and an update on industry consultations following a major procurement reset.
The bulletin states that the Canadian Space Agency, Natural Resources Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada remain committed to launching the wildfire monitoring satellite constellation by 2029, despite terminating a key design contract earlier this year.
On April 23, 2026, Public Works and Government Services Canada terminated a $71.8M design and development contract with Spire Global Canada for convenience. That agreement, awarded in February 2025, covered the initial phases of a planned $106-million constellation of 10 small satellites, which are meant to operate in low-Earth orbit. Addressing the space sector on May 20, Canadian Space Agency President Lisa Campbell outlined a flexible procurement strategy. She encouraged industry partners to focus on speed, initial operating capability, and iterative development rather than rigid technical requirements. On May 22, the agency issued a Request for Information (RFI) to assess how domestic companies can support global wildfire tracking, followed by a virtual industry session on June 2.
While procurement plans evolve, the WildFireSat project team is preparing front-line responders and local communities to interpret space-based observations. “Discussions supported reflection on assumptions, roles, expectations, and shared values between all participants,” the bulletin noted regarding recent outreach sessions with nine Indigenous emergency management organizations in Winnipeg. Officials emphasized that satellite data must align with community priorities, respect local governance, and protect sensitive cultural information.
To broaden satellite literacy, federal coordinators launched a free online course titled An Introduction to Satellites in Wildfire Management through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre learning portal. Developed over three years with provincial and international partners, the self-paced curriculum is available in English, French, and Spanish, with downloadable materials in Plains Cree. Readers can also access two new educational posters linked in the bulletin. One guide explains daily pass times for polar-orbiting satellites, which circle the Earth from pole to pole, equipped with Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite sensors. A second poster details how dense forest canopy cover and overpass timing influence infrared heat detection.
The current WildFireSat RFI closes on September 3, 2026. Based on the agencies involved still holding to a 2029 WildFireSat constellation launch date, I would expect shortly after the RFI closes that a new procurement notice will be published with the plan to move forward on this important program.