MethaneSAT, the first environmental satellite operated by a civic organization, shuts down after 15 months of operation. Researchers: "The information collected has already changed the rules of the game in monitoring methane emissions"
A groundbreaking satellite designed to monitor one of the most potent and dangerous greenhouse gases – methane – has lost contact with Earth, ending a pioneering 15-month mission prematurely. However, scientists say its scientific contribution is already a breakthrough, especially since the mission was not run by a government space agency but by an independent environmental organization.
Ambitious mission, mixed results
MethaneSAT, a satellite developed by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), launched into space in March 2024 with partial funding from Bezos Earth Fund, and in collaboration with Google and the government ניו זילנדThe goal: to provide open and objective data on methane emissions – a greenhouse gas that is about 80 times more potent than CO₂ – over a 20-year period.
Unlike most state-operated satellites, MethaneSAT was a civil society project, with open access to data with the aim of accelerating regulatory response and policy decisions based on real-time scientific evidence.
"The satellite performed amazingly well. We were able to detect emissions even at low concentrations, including 'super-spreaders' and small sources, which had not been seen from space until now," the EDF said.
15 months of change
During its operation, MethaneSAT was able to map methane emissions from major oil and gas industry reservoirs, including: Permian Basin in the US and industrial regions in Central Asia. Its sensing and processing capabilities on a platform Google Earth Engine High-resolution, near-real-time maps were produced, and the data was released to the public, governments, and scientists.
But on June 20, 2025, the satellite lost contact with the ground station, and since then all attempts to restore it have failed. An engineering examination has revealed that it has likely lost its power supply and cannot be restored.
"Despite the malfunction, we are proud of the satellite's significant contribution to climate research and policy," EDF noted.
Not a failure – but a new model
Although the satellite was designed to operate for about five years, academic and environmental institutions do not see it as a failure. On the contrary, it is a prototype for a new model of global environmental monitoring. The data collected has already been used to advance policy and enforcement in critical emissions hotspots.
Commentators point out that the project demonstrates how civilian organizations can initiate, finance, and execute complex technological projects, which are usually reserved for government space agencies.
What next?
EDF has not announced official plans to launch a replacement satellite, but has announced that it will continue to monitor methane emissions using Aircraft, ground sensors and AI technologies, to fill the gap that has been created. Also, the engineering team is still trying to understand the exact causes of the malfunction.
The incident also raises questions about Sustainability of civil projects In the space field: Can nonprofits compete with the stability and infrastructure of government agencies or commercial companies? Or is it the flexibility and innovation they offer that is the key?
The article is based on an article by Karin Klosterman on the Green Prophet website.
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