Bezos-Backed Methane-Tracking Satellite Suffers Mission Failure in Orbit

A satellite supported by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, designed to monitor methane emissions, has been lost in space, according to officials in New Zealand.

The MethaneSAT probe, a collaborative effort also funded by New Zealand and the Environmental Defense Fund, aimed to provide unprecedented resolution in measuring greenhouse gas emissions.

The satellite, however, ceased responding to commands from Earth, succumbing to a series of technical challenges. Andrew Johnson, a senior official at the New Zealand Space Agency, acknowledged the setback. "Clearly, this is a disappointing development," Johnson stated. He emphasized the inherent challenges of space exploration, adding that every attempt, regardless of its outcome, expands our knowledge and capabilities.

The Environmental Defense Fund, which spearheaded the project, described the news as "difficult" but affirmed its commitment to continue tracking methane emissions.

MethaneSAT was specifically engineered to measure emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to climate change by trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere.

Accurate estimation of methane emissions from oil and gas projects worldwide has proven to be a considerable challenge. The MethaneSAT team highlighted the satellite's advanced capabilities, noting it was designed to measure methane emissions in oil and gas producing regions globally.

Early Data Showed Higher Than Expected Emissions

Project lead Steven Hamburg noted the initial data collected by the satellite was "remarkable". Measurements taken in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico indicated emissions three to five times higher than estimates provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Furthermore, observations in the South Caspian region revealed emissions exceeding reported figures by over tenfold, Hamburg shared on LinkedIn.

Launched in March 2024 aboard a SpaceX rocket from California, controllers lost contact with the satellite on June 20, according to a statement from the MethaneSAT team.

Satellite Deemed Unrecoverable

The team confirmed that the satellite had lost all power on Monday of this week and was "likely not recoverable."

"The engineering team is conducting a thorough investigation into the loss of communication," MethaneSAT stated, adding that they would share their findings in due course.

Despite its abbreviated operational lifespan, the MethaneSAT mission was hailed as a "remarkable success in terms of scientific and technological accomplishment".

Bezos, through his philanthropic Earth Fund, invested over US$100 million in the project. The satellite ultimately failed after experiencing a series of technical issues, including repeatedly entering a sleep mode without instruction, which required engineers to perform time-consuming resets. Additionally, one of its three thrusters malfunctioned.