Bezos-Backed Methane-Tracking Satellite Mission Ends Prematurely After Loss of Contact

WELLINGTON: A satellite backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, designed for a crucial climate change mission, has been declared lost in space, according to officials in New Zealand on Wednesday.

The MethaneSAT space probe, intended to measure greenhouse gas emissions with "unprecedented resolution," received funding from both Wellington and the US-based Environmental Defense Fund.

The satellite recently ceased communication with its controllers on Earth after being plagued by technical challenges.

Andrew Johnson, a senior official at the New Zealand Space Agency, stated, "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 continue methane-tracking efforts.

MethaneSAT's primary goal was to measure emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas responsible for trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere, thereby accelerating climate change.

Obtaining accurate estimates of methane emissions from global oil and gas projects has proven remarkably challenging.

The MethaneSAT team emphasized that the satellite 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 Gleaned Was "Remarkable"

Project lead Steven Hamburg noted that the initial data gathered by the satellite was "remarkable".

Hamburg posted on LinkedIn, "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 launched from California.

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

Declared "Not Recoverable"

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

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

Despite its shortened lifespan, MethaneSAT lauded the mission as a "remarkable success in terms of scientific and technological accomplishment".

Amazon founder Bezos invested over US$100 million in the project through his philanthropic Earth Fund.

The satellite ultimately failed after overcoming a series of technical difficulties. It repeatedly entered a sleep, or stand-by, mode without prompting, requiring engineers to perform a time-consuming reset each time. Furthermore, one of its three thrusters malfunctioned.