$88M MethaneSAT Declared Lost: Setback for Global Climate Monitoring

A major blow has struck global climate tracking efforts MethaneSAT, an $88-million methane-monitoring satellite partially funded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, has gone silent in space. The non-profit Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), which leads the mission, confirmed on Tuesday that the satellite failed to reach its intended orbit and is no longer operational.

What Was MethaneSAT?

MethaneSAT, developed by the EDF with support from Bezos’ Earth Fund, aimed to advance space-based technologies for tracking climate pollutants. Methane, though less prevalent than carbon dioxide, traps over 80 times more heat in the atmosphere over a 20-year period. This makes it a critical focus for short-term climate action.

Technical Failure Post-Launch

On Friday, June 20, the MethaneSAT team lost contact with the satellite. After exhausting all efforts to reestablish communication, engineers confirmed a total power failure. The satellite, launched in March 2024, had already begun capturing emissions data from oil and gas-producing regions around the world. Its loss significantly hinders global methane tracking capabilities at a time when reducing this potent pollutant remains urgent.

Impact on Global Emissions Transparency

“This is a painful loss, not only for our team but for the global climate community,” said Steven Hamburg, Chief Scientist at EDF and MethaneSAT Project Lead. “We had hoped MethaneSAT would play a crucial role in holding polluters accountable by offering transparent, independent data  for researchers and the public on methane emissions worldwide.”

MethaneSAT orbited Earth 15 times a day and pinpointed leaks from oil and gas infrastructure with high resolution. Its open-access model aimed to empower regulators, researchers, and concerned citizens to act on real-time emissions data.

Funding from Bezos and the Earth Fund

Bezos’ Earth Fund committed $100 million to MethaneSAT, marking it as a unique project among his broader climate-tech investments. The mission’s failure underscores the risks of deploying advanced satellite systems, even as private-sector momentum behind space-based environmental tracking continues to grow.

Other Missions Still Active

Despite MethaneSAT’s failure, other methane-tracking satellites remain in operation. NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and Canada’s GHGSat continue to gather critical data. However, none offer the same degree of public transparency that MethaneSAT promised.

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has not announced plans for a replacement satellite. Still, Hamburg reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to reducing methane emissions. “This mission may be over, but the need has never been greater,” he said.