Methane-Tracking Satellite Backed by Bezos Declared Lost After Critical Failure in Orbit

WELLINGTON – A methane-tracking satellite, financially supported by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has been declared lost in space, according to officials in New Zealand. The satellite was designed for a critical mission focused on monitoring greenhouse gas emissions.

The MethaneSAT probe, which aimed to measure emissions with unprecedented accuracy, was also backed by funding from Wellington and the US-based Environmental Defense Fund. However, after experiencing a series of technical difficulties, the satellite has ceased responding to commands from Earth.

Andrew Johnson, a senior official at the New Zealand Space Agency, expressed his disappointment, stating, "Clearly, this is a disappointing development. As those who work in the space sector know, space is inherently challenging, and every attempt, successful or not, pushes the boundaries of what we know and what we're capable of."

The Environmental Defense Fund, which spearheaded the project, acknowledged the "difficult news" but affirmed its commitment to continue its methane-tracking initiatives.

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

Accurately assessing methane emissions from oil and gas operations worldwide has proven to be a considerable challenge. The MethaneSAT team emphasized that the satellite was among the most advanced ever deployed for this purpose, designed to measure emissions in oil and gas producing regions globally.

Early Data Showed 'Remarkable' Findings

Project lead Steven Hamburg highlighted that the initial data collected by the satellite was "remarkable."

Hamburg noted on LinkedIn that, "Recent measurements in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico revealed emissions three to five times higher than estimated by the US environmental protection agency, while emissions observed in the South Caspian region are over 10 times higher than reported."

MethaneSAT was launched into orbit in March 2024 aboard a SpaceX rocket launched from California.

Loss of Communication

Controllers initially lost contact with the satellite on June 20, according to a statement from the MethaneSAT team.

On Monday of this week, it was confirmed that the satellite had lost all power and was "likely not recoverable."

The MethaneSAT team stated that "The engineering team is conducting a thorough investigation into the loss of communication. This is expected to take time. We will share what we learn."

Despite its abbreviated operational lifespan, the MethaneSAT team lauded the mission 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's demise followed a series of technical issues, including repeated, unprompted entries into sleep mode, requiring engineers to perform time-consuming resets. Additionally, one of its three thrusters malfunctioned.