11.05.2026

Munich/Radolfzell, 4 May 2026 – With the successful launch of the RAVEN microsatellite, ICARUS 2.0, an international research project aimed at observing animals globally from space, has reached a crucial milestone. The satellite was launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, deployed via Germany’s launch integrator Exolaunch, and marks the beginning of a new, independent European-led space infrastructure for the so-called ‘Internet of Animals’. The project is being spearheaded by the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in collaboration with its technology partner TALOS and other partners. This opens up new possibilities for the global monitoring of animal movements, biodiversity, agriculture and environmental changes.

ICARUS 2.0 builds on the original ICARUS system, which paved the way for satellite-based research into animal movements worldwide. The first system was developed with the support of the German Space Agency at DLR and was operated at the time on the International Space Station (ISS) in collaboration with the Russian space agency Roscosmos. After the original ICARUS system was discontinued as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the Max Planck Society and the German NewSpace company TALOS teamed up to develop the next generation of the system.

An important intermediate step along this path was the successful precursor mission “ICARUS goes LEO”, conducted aboard the GENA-OT satellite of the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, launched in November 2025. The University of the Bundeswehr Munich has supported the ICARUS initiative from its very beginning. With its SPACE research centre, it hosts the Bundeswehr’s central hub for space research and also acts as a strategic driver of innovation for dual-use technologies, translating scientific insights into application-oriented and technologically sovereign space solutions in close collaboration with startups, industry partners, and space institutions.

TALOS and the Max Planck Society are planning ICARUS 2.0 as an independent constellation consisting of at least five small satellites in low Earth orbit, which will deliver up to five updates per day on the tagged animals. As a result, data collection will become more robust, frequent and independent in future, as the satellites will enable significantly greater temporal coverage and data can be collected continuously.

The scientific mission is led by the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, which has been setting standards in satellite-based animal monitoring for years through the ICARUS project. As a technology partner, TALOS plays a central role in establishing the constellation, designing the mission, managing its operational activities and further developing the tracking technology. Building on this foundation, TALOS is increasingly translating the technology into marketable applications. The result is a tool that, in addition to global environmental and biodiversity research, opens up new and long-needed opportunities for commercial applications – such as in global agriculture and for tracking livestock in remote regions.

“With RAVEN, we are launching our own infrastructure for ICARUS 2.0 into space for the first time – and with it, a new generation of space-based animal and environmental monitoring,” says Gregor Langer, Co-founder and CEO of TALOS. “The successful launch of the first operational satellite demonstrates that Europe is capable of establishing and operating an independent and high-performance satellite infrastructure for global scientific missions within just a few years. This independence is key to maintaining long-term, reliable access to data while preserving technological and operational sovereignty.”

The launch also marks a breakthrough in scientific terms. “ICARUS 2.0 opens up new possibilities for us to record animal behavior and environmental changes with a level of quality and continuity that was previously unattainable for research and nature conservation,” emphasizes Martin Wikelski, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior. “It is precisely the global and regular availability of the data that represents a decisive step forward for research – for instance, to better understand migration, biodiversity, disease outbreaks, natural disasters and ecological changes on a global scale.”

The project is supported by a strong network of partners. As the manufacturer of the satellite platform, EnduroSat is making a significant contribution to the development of the first satellite and is supporting the deployment of the constellation as an industrial partner. The company’s extensive flight heritage and end-to-end space services accelerate, de-risk and eliminate complexity in the deployment of space infrastructure. The German Space Agency at DLR on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space is overseeing the further development of the ICARUS system as a key funding and support partner, thereby helping to facilitate the transition from a scientific mission to a long-term infrastructure that can also be used by public institutions.

The National Geographic Society is also instrumental in supporting the mission: It provides additional support to RAVEN, thereby enhancing the mission’s international visibility and reach. At the same time, the ICARUS technology is to be made available to an international community of researchers and conservation projects via the National Geographic Society’s global Explorer network.

The launch of RAVEN marks the start of the development of a dedicated infrastructure for ICARUS 2.0. Over the coming months and years, the system will be gradually expanded to become a space infrastructure that can be used for both scientific and commercial purposes in the fields of wildlife observation, environmental monitoring and data-driven applications.

About ICARUS: 

ICARUS (International Cooperation for Animal Research Using Space) is a space-based system initiated by Martin Wikelski. The system enables the continuous global tracking of animals, surpassing traditional methods such as bird ring marking. While the original system, which consisted of an on-board computer and an antenna attached to the International Space Station (ISS), was discontinued in March 2022, the new system will operate independently through its own satellite fleet. It will provide 3D tracking of animal migrations across all continents in near real-time. The initiative aims to democratize access to tracking technology for the global scientific community, allowing smaller research organizations to participate in cutting-edge conservation efforts. The objective is to develop this global biodiversity IoT system into an open-source and participatory project for all nations. A 3D rendering of real animal movement data can be viewed here. 

About TALOS 

TALOS is a Munich- and Dresden-based NewSpace startup and a leading innovator in IoT and animal tracking technologies. Founded in 2022, the company is at the forefront of harnessing space technology to advance wildlife conservation, environmental and climate change research. Its lightweight, solar-powered IoT trackers and CubeSat constellation will provide precise animal tracking and environmental data collection, enabling researchers, conservationists, and scientists to better understand and protect the natural world.  

About Max Planck Society 

The Max Planck Society is one of the world’s leading research organizations, dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge across a wide range of disciplines, from the natural sciences to the humanities. With over 80 institutes and research facilities worldwide, the Society fosters groundbreaking research to address global challenges and deepen our understanding of the world. Its mission is to drive innovation, contribute to scientific progress, and improve human welfare, making significant contributions to both fundamental science and practical applications. 

Quelle: TALOS Space