Bezos-Backed Climate Satellite, MethaneSAT, Declared Lost After Space Anomaly

Jeff Bezos

WELLINGTON: A methane-tracking satellite, financially supported by Amazon's Jeff Bezos, has been declared lost in space, according to officials in New Zealand. The satellite was part of a vital climate change mission.

The MethaneSAT probe, designed for "unprecedented resolution" in measuring greenhouse gas emissions, was also funded by New Zealand and the Environmental Defense Fund based in the United States.

Technical issues plagued the satellite, and it recently ceased communication with its controllers on Earth.

"This is clearly a disappointing development," stated Andrew Johnson, a senior official at the New Zealand Space Agency. He added, "Those in the space sector understand that space is inherently challenging, and every attempt, whether successful or not, expands our knowledge and capabilities."

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

MethaneSAT aimed to measure emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change by trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere. Accurate estimations of methane emissions from global oil and gas projects have proven challenging to obtain.

It was one of the most advanced methane tracking satellites in space, measuring methane emissions in oil and gas producing regions across the world," the MethaneSAT team said.

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

Hamburg wrote on LinkedIn: "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 launched in March 2024 aboard a SpaceX rocket from California.

Controllers initially lost contact with the satellite on June 20, the MethaneSAT team reported.

The team confirmed the satellite lost all power and was "likely not recoverable".

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

Despite its shortened lifespan, MethaneSAT considered the mission a "remarkable success in terms of scientific and technological accomplishment."

Bezos invested over US$100 million in the project through his Earth Fund.

The satellite ultimately failed after experiencing a series of technical problems. It repeatedly entered a sleep mode unexpectedly, requiring engineers to perform frequent resets. Additionally, one of its three thrusters malfunctioned.