Bezos-Backed Climate Satellite, MethaneSAT, Lost After Technical Failures

A methane-tracking satellite, financially supported by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has been reported lost in space, according to officials in New Zealand on Wednesday. The satellite was undertaking a critical mission related to climate change.

The MethaneSAT space probe, designed to provide "unprecedented resolution" in measuring greenhouse gas emissions, received funding from both Wellington and the Environmental Defense Fund, based in the United States.

After being troubled by a series of technical issues, the satellite has recently stopped responding to commands from its controllers on Earth.

Andrew Johnson, a senior official at the New Zealand Space Agency, expressed his disappointment, stating, "Clearly, this is a disappointing development." He added, "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 their commitment to continuing methane-tracking efforts.

MethaneSAT was specifically designed to measure emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that significantly contributes to climate change by trapping heat within the Earth's atmosphere. Obtaining accurate estimates of methane emissions from global oil and gas projects has proven to be a persistent challenge.

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

Early Data Deemed 'Remarkable'

Project leader Steven Hamburg described the initial data collected by the satellite as "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 space in March 2024 aboard a SpaceX rocket originating from California.

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

'Not Recoverable'

This week, on Monday, it was confirmed that the satellite had lost all power and was "likely not recoverable."

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

Despite its unexpectedly short operational period, MethaneSAT hailed 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 malfunctions. It repeatedly entered a sleep, or stand-by, mode without any command, requiring engineers to perform a time-consuming reset on each occasion. Additionally, one of its three thrusters experienced a failure.