MethaneSAT, the methane tracking satellite of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) with support from the Bezos Foundation, has become lost in space. Its ground team lost contact with the spacecraft on June 20, but tried to re-establish communication until they learned on the morning of July 1 that MethaneSAT had lost power completely. The team believes that the satellite is likely beyond recovery. MethaneSAT has collected data on methane emissions that were previously untraceable as part of the fight against climate change. Methane is the second largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide, with the largest sources coming from agriculture, fossil fuels, and waste decomposition.
In a statement, the MethaneSAT team noted that the spacecraft’s observations have provided critical information on the distribution and volume of methane released from oil and gas production regions. Thanks to the satellite, scientists have also been able to “interpret measurements from space and translate them into volumes of methane released.” This knowledge can be used in future missions.
The foundation developed a mission that launched in March 2024 to hold countries that had previously pledged to reduce methane emissions accountable for their commitments. It has created algorithms based on Google‘s cloud technology to calculate and monitor methane emissions in specific regions with the help of scientists from Harvard and the Smithsonian. Although the satellite itself is no longer operational, the MethaneSAT team has promised to collaborate with other scientists to use the algorithms and software developed for the project. The team will also continue to process the data the satellite sent back.
