MethaneSAT, a satellite developed to monitor global methane emissions, has suffered a critical failure just months after launch. Backed by the Environmental Defense Fund, Google, and Jeff Bezos’ Earth Fund, the satellite lost power in orbit and is now considered unrecoverable.
This mission was designed to be a game-changer in tracking methane leaks, a major contributor to global warming. Its sensors could detect emissions with unprecedented precision, holding industries and governments accountable in near real time. Losing it means a setback for climate transparency and oversight.
MethaneSAT was not just a scientific tool, it was part of a larger climate accountability strategy. The data it promised to provide would’ve empowered researchers, policy-makers, and environmental advocates alike. Now, the mission’s failure underscores the risks of relying on complex, high-value satellites without backup systems.
While EDF is still investigating the root cause, the loss highlights a growing challenge in space-based climate monitoring: balancing ambition with resilience. The need for accurate, independent emissions tracking hasn’t gone away, and neither has the urgency to try again.