Icarus 2.0 is scheduled to launch on Nov. 11 aboard a SpaceX rocket to resume global wildlife tracking using tiny animal-borne sensors. The ICARUS program began in 2002, faced technical setbacks and geopolitical interruptions, and first produced two years of data after activation in 2020. The miniaturized 10-centimeter receiver will fly on CubeSats as part of the Seranis mission; the program aims to expand to six satellites by the coming years to provide near-real-time tracking and environmental data that can speed conservation responses.
Icarus 2.0 to Relaunch Nov. 11 — Miniature Satellites Will Track Wildlife Worldwide
Icarus 2.0 is scheduled to launch on Nov. 11 aboard a SpaceX rocket to resume global wildlife tracking using tiny animal-borne sensors. The ICARUS program began in 2002, faced technical setbacks and geopolitical interruptions, and first produced two years of data after activation in 2020. The miniaturized 10-centimeter receiver will fly on CubeSats as part of the Seranis mission; the program aims to expand to six satellites by the coming years to provide near-real-time tracking and environmental data that can speed conservation responses.
03:14, 08.11.2025Science
Icarus 2.0 Set to Relaunch on Nov. 11
The second stage of the ICARUS initiative is scheduled to lift off on Nov. 11 aboard a SpaceX rocket, carrying the upgraded wildlife-tracking satellite Icarus 2.0 into orbit. After an initial checkout period, Icarus 2.0 will receive signals from lightweight tags attached to animals, delivering richer data on migration routes and how environmental change affects animal behavior.
From Long Development to a Miniaturized System
ICARUS began in 2002 and required nearly 16 years of development before an experimental module was mounted on the International Space Station. That early mission encountered technical problems, and the system was returned to Earth for revisions before being relaunched. The platform was activated in 2020 and provided two years of valuable tracking data.
International collaboration was later disrupted by geopolitical events, which paused some projects involving Russian partners. With the new 2.0 hardware now heading to space and plans for a second dedicated satellite in 2026, the program is poised to resume and expand.
With Icarus 2.0, we are building a truly planetary-scale observatory, said Martin Wikelski, director of the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (via Phys.org). For the first time, we will be able to listen to the signals of animals worldwide in near real time, offering unique insights on biodiversity and environmental change.
Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev installed the original ICARUS module on the ISS in 2018, an image captured by NASA during the program's deployment.
Why Miniaturization Matters
The project has dramatically miniaturized its receiver. What once required a large ISS antenna has been reduced to a compact 10-centimeter payload that can ride on a CubeSat. Icarus 2.0 will fly as part of the Seranis research mission from the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, whose small-satellite fleet will host the Icarus module and enable continuous, global tracking data via piggybacked orbits.
This modular approach allows the network to scale rapidly. A second Icarus satellite is planned for 2026, with additional satellites expected to follow. The program aims to field six satellites that will report on animal movements and provide local environmental telemetry including temperature, air pressure, humidity, and acceleration from next-generation lightweight sensors attached to wildlife.
Conservation and Scientific Impact
By delivering near-real-time, planetary-scale tracking, the expanded Icarus network could accelerate responses to habitat loss, disease outbreaks, and shifting migration patterns. Researchers expect the system to improve understanding of biodiversity dynamics and to inform conservation strategies across ecosystems.