The advanced MethaneSAT satellite, designed to track global methane emissions with unprecedented detail, has been declared lost after contact with the spacecraft ceased on June 20. Despite the premature end to its mission, project scientists confirm a substantial volume of valuable data was collected, which will still allow for the creation of detailed maps of the potent greenhouse gas.
Key Takeaways
- The MethaneSAT satellite, a project of the Environmental Defense Fund, is presumed lost in space after a communication failure in June.
- Before its loss, the satellite successfully gathered high-resolution data on methane emissions from nearly 1,000 oil and gas sites.
- Scientists will process this existing data to fulfill the mission's initial goal of identifying global methane hotspots.
- Future monitoring may rely on airborne sensors and data from other international satellites, using analytical tools developed for MethaneSAT.
MethaneSAT Lost After Communication Failure
The Environmental Defense Fund announced on June 20 that its MethaneSAT satellite had stopped communicating with ground control and is now considered non-operational. The spacecraft was engineered to be the most advanced methane-imaging satellite in orbit, with a primary goal of mapping and monitoring emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas.
The project's principal investigator, Steven Wofsy, a professor at Harvard University, explained the sequence of events that led to the satellite's loss. Wofsy's team designed the satellite's highly sensitive primary instrument, a spectrometer capable of detecting methane sources with remarkable precision.
A Sequence of Technical Problems
According to Wofsy, the initial loss of contact on June 20 was not immediately alarming, as such events can be caused by temporary glitches like cosmic rays. However, the satellite's automated safety protocols failed to engage. The system is designed to reboot into a safe mode, but this did not happen.
Further concern grew when two separate "watchdog" systems, designed to force a full system reboot after prolonged communication silence, also failed to activate. This series of failures strongly indicates a critical power loss, leaving the satellite unable to operate or receive commands.
"By the time Monday was over, we had a quite firm indication that the satellite was likely lost," Wofsy stated in a recent interview. "It’s not common, but this happens to satellites."
Why Methane Matters
Methane is the second-most significant greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. It is responsible for a substantial portion of near-term global warming because it is far more potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere. According to scientific data, atmospheric methane concentrations have nearly tripled since the preindustrial era, largely due to human activity in sectors like oil and gas, agriculture, and waste management.
Mission's Primary Goal Partly Achieved
Despite the satellite's loss, a significant portion of its mission was accomplished. The primary objective was to create a quantitative assessment of methane emissions from the oil and gas industry, providing data to governments, industry stakeholders, and non-governmental organizations to incentivize emission reductions.
The satellite's instrument was uniquely capable of measuring two distinct types of emissions: concentrated point sources, like a leaking pipe, and more widespread diffuse emissions from a larger area. Wofsy confirmed the team has "beautiful results that show you can do that," a feat not previously achieved from space.
Data Collection Success
Before losing contact, MethaneSAT collected high-quality data over nearly 1,000 different sites. This information is sufficient to characterize emissions from a major fraction of the world's key oil and gas production regions, effectively completing the first phase of the mission: identifying the hotspots.
Data Processing to Proceed as Planned
The scientific team is now focused on analyzing the wealth of information gathered. Wofsy explained that new methods had to be developed to translate the satellite's raw data into actionable emission rate measurements. This complex analytical work has been successful, and the team will now apply it to the entire dataset.
"Around the end of this calendar year, we should be able to provide these high-impact data and analysis products," Wofsy said. These products will detail how much methane is being emitted from specific oil and gas production areas and calculate the "methane intensity"—the amount of gas lost per unit of natural gas sold.
Future of Methane Monitoring
While the loss of MethaneSAT means the mission cannot track changes in emissions over time as originally planned, the project team is exploring alternative strategies to continue this vital work. The goal remains to monitor whether reduction efforts are effective.
Several initiatives are being considered to fill the gap left by the satellite. These include:
- Airborne Sensors: The team has two aircraft-mounted sensors with capabilities similar to MethaneSAT. Pending funding, these could be deployed to track emissions over North America.
- Collaboration with Other Satellites: Analytical tools developed for MethaneSAT can be adapted for data from other spacecraft. Potential partners include Japan's GOSAT-GW and Europe's upcoming Sentinel-5 satellite.
- A Potential Successor: Discussions about building a new satellite are in the very early stages. A replacement could potentially be built in about three years.
MethaneSAT was notable for being built with private funding, a model that Wofsy says is still viable. However, whether funders will support a second, expensive satellite mission is yet to be determined.
"I’m not planning on throwing in the towel at the moment," Wofsy affirmed. "We have so much interesting data and so much work to do."
Team Focuses on Analysis Amid Setback
The mood in the lab was understandably somber following the news, but the focus has quickly shifted to the critical task of data analysis. Wofsy noted that having a clear and important objective helps the team move forward.
"People were sad for sure — even me — but everybody recognizes that we have what we need to accomplish the first part of this very ambitious global agenda," he explained. "So people have their sleeves rolled up."
The setback comes at a challenging time, as Wofsy's lab has also been affected by federal funding cuts, losing four separate grants. Despite these challenges, he confirmed that the core research on methane analysis will continue, ensuring the valuable data from MethaneSAT's short but productive life will be fully utilized.
