Animals from space in sight - Project 'Icarus' restarts - Icarus Project Reborn: SpaceX Launches Satellite to Track Wildlife in Real Time

The Icarus research initiative has resumed after a three-year pause. A SpaceX rocket launched a satellite with a miniature receiver into orbit on Friday, marking the restart of the project. The system aims to track animals worldwide in near real time from space. The Icarus project first began operations aboard the International Space Station in 2020. However, cooperation between German and Russian space agencies ended in 2022 due to the war in Ukraine, bringing the initiative to a halt. The new phase involves deploying miniature receivers in collaboration with Universität der Bundeswehr München.

These receivers pick up signals from tiny transmitters attached to migratory birds, bats, or sea turtles. The data reveals their locations and movements with high precision. By mid-2027, six satellites are expected to form a network, enabling comprehensive and reliable data collection globally for the first time. Following a three-month testing phase, animal tracking is set to resume. The system is now designed to operate worldwide in near real time. Researchers will gain unprecedented insights into animal migration and behaviour. The restart of Icarus marks a significant step forward for global wildlife monitoring.