MethaneSAT failure marks setback for climate transparency, but mission’s data will still guide future efforts
One of the most advanced satellites ever launched to track methane emissions, MethaneSAT, has gone dark just over a year after entering orbit — marking a blow to global climate transparency efforts.
The $88 million satellite, developed by the nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in partnership with leading research and technology organizations, lost contact with ground controllers on June 20. Despite multiple recovery attempts, EDF confirmed on July 1 that MethaneSAT has likely lost power and will not resume operations.
Launched in March 2024 aboard a SpaceX rocket, MethaneSAT was designed to monitor and map methane leaks from oil and gas operations worldwide. Methane, while less abundant than carbon dioxide, traps up to 30 times more heat in the atmosphere over a century, making it a critical target in the fight against global warming.
Mission cut short but not in vain
MethaneSAT was hailed as a pioneering mission to lift the veil on invisible methane emissions and to hold industries accountable through transparent, open-access data. Its failure underscores the challenges of deploying sophisticated climate-monitoring tools in space, but officials emphasized that its legacy and data will continue to impact policy and research.
EDF said that data already collected during the satellite’s year in orbit will be processed and released in the coming months. The mission received support from notable partners including Harvard University, the New Zealand Space Agency, BAE Systems, Google, and the Bezos Earth Fund.
“MethaneSAT was at the vanguard of science and advocacy,” EDF said in a statement. “To succeed in meeting the climate challenge, we need bold action and fearless innovation — and this mission embodied that spirit.”
A critical step for Earth observation
MethaneSAT was designed to independently verify industrial methane reporting, providing unbiased insights to policymakers, scientists, and the public. While its early end is disappointing, the knowledge gained from its deployment is expected to inform future space-based climate monitoring missions.
The setback highlights the need for robust and resilient tools in the global effort to understand and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. As other Earth observation satellites prepare to launch in coming years, the data and lessons from MethaneSAT will help shape the next generation of climate transparency efforts.