# MethaneSAT > former U.S.-New Zealand spacecraft for monitoring global methane emissions **Wikidata**: [Q104855167](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104855167) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MethaneSAT) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/methanesat ## Summary MethaneSAT was a U.S.-New Zealand Earth observation satellite operated by the Environmental Defense Fund designed to monitor global methane emissions. Launched in March 2024, the spacecraft successfully entered a Sun-synchronous orbit but permanently lost power in June 2025, ending its mission after roughly 1.3 years of service. It was a purpose-built platform aimed at providing high-resolution data on methane leaks to support climate change mitigation. ## Key Facts - **Status:** Former satellite (mission concluded). - **Operator:** Environmental Defense Fund. - **Launch Date:** March 4, 2024 (22:05:00 UTC). - **Launch Vehicle:** Falcon 9 Block 5 (Booster B1081). - **Launch Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East. - **Mission End:** June 20, 2025 (due to failure of the electric power system). - **Mass:** 362 kg (launch weight). - **Orbit:** Sun-synchronous orbit. - **Design Life:** 5 years. - **Actual Service Life:** 1.3 years. - **Capital Cost:** Approximately $88 million USD (as of 2020). - **Manufacturers:** Blue Canyon Technologies (spacecraft bus) and Ball Aerospace & Technologies (payload). - **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 2024-043D; SCN 59101. ## FAQs ### Q: What was the primary purpose of MethaneSAT? A: MethaneSAT was an Earth observation satellite specifically designed to monitor global methane emissions. Its goal was to provide precise data to help scientists and regulators track and reduce greenhouse gas leaks. ### Q: Why did the MethaneSAT mission end? A: The satellite experienced a critical failure in its electric power system on June 20, 2025. This hardware failure caused the permanent loss of the spacecraft after only 1.3 years of operation, well short of its 5-year design life. ### Q: Who built and launched MethaneSAT? A: The satellite was manufactured by Blue Canyon Technologies (bus) and Ball Aerospace & Technologies (payload). It was launched by SpaceX using a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base. ### Q: How much did the MethaneSAT project cost? A: The project had a reported capital cost of $88 million USD as of 2020, covering construction, the rocket launch, and project commissioning. ## Why It Matters MethaneSAT represented a significant advancement in the use of space-based technology for climate change mitigation. Unlike generic Earth observation satellites, MethaneSAT was a specialized platform dedicated exclusively to tracking methane—a potent greenhouse gas. By providing high-precision monitoring of emissions from the oil and gas industry, the satellite aimed to close the "data gap" between reported and actual emissions, holding corporations and nations accountable for their environmental impact. The mission was a notable example of a non-profit organization (the Environmental Defense Fund) procuring and operating a dedicated space asset, bypassing traditional government-run Earth science channels to accelerate climate action. Despite its premature failure in 2025 due to an electrical power system anomaly, the data gathered during its 1.3-year operational window contributed to the understanding of global emission sources. The project also highlighted the risks involved in space exploration, as technical failures curtailed a mission designed for a five-year lifespan. ## Notable For - **Specialized Monitoring:** Being a dedicated Earth observation satellite focused exclusively on global methane emissions rather than general climate or weather monitoring. - **Non-Profit Operation:** Being operated by the Environmental Defense Fund, a non-profit entity, rather than a commercial telecom company or government space agency. - **Premature Failure:** Ending operations after only 1.3 years due to a specific electric power system failure, compared to a 5-year design life. - **High-Precision Payload:** Utilizing a payload manufactured by Ball Aerospace & Technologies capable of measuring methane levels with high accuracy. - **WikiProject Focus:** Being listed on the WikiProject Climate change, underscoring its direct relevance to environmental advocacy and study. ## Body ### Development and Manufacturing MethaneSAT was developed as a collaborative effort involving significant aerospace contractors. The construction contract was finalized in January 2020. The spacecraft bus, which houses the satellite's core structural and functional systems, was built by Blue Canyon Technologies using their "Saturn-200" platform. The specific scientific payload—the instrumentation used to detect methane—was manufactured by Ball Aerospace & Technologies. The total capital expenditure for the project, including construction, launch, and commissioning, was estimated at $88 million USD. ### Mission Profile The satellite was launched on March 4, 2024, at 22:05:00 UTC from the Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East. The launch provider was SpaceX, utilizing a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket (booster serial B1081). MethaneSAT was placed into a Sun-synchronous orbit, an optimal path for Earth observation satellites requiring consistent lighting conditions. The spacecraft had a launch mass of 362 kilograms. It was assigned the COSPAR ID 2024-043D and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 59101. ### Operational Conclusion The MethaneSAT mission was officially declared a failure on June 20, 2025. The loss of the spacecraft was attributed to a malfunction in the electric power system. This event terminated the mission after a service life of approximately 1.3 years, significantly shorter than the 5-year design life specified during development. Consequently, the entity is now classified as a "former" Earth observation satellite. ## References 1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/methanesat.htm) 2. [Source](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/climate-satellite-methanesat-backed-by-bezos-and-google-fails-in-space-after-just-1-year) 3. Jonathan's Space Report 4. [Source](https://database.eohandbook.com/database/missionsummary.aspx?missionID=955) 5. [Source](https://www.bluecanyontech.com/news/blue-canyon-technologies-to-build-its-largest-satellite-to-date-for-methanesat/) 6. [Source](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/climate/methane-sat-lost.html) 7. [Source](https://www.methanesat.org/satellite/)