Failed Mission: Bezos-Backed Methane-Tracking Satellite Lost After Technical Issues

WELLINGTON: A climate change mission has suffered a setback as a satellite supported by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has been declared lost in space, according to officials in New Zealand.

The MethaneSAT space probe, designed to measure greenhouse gas emissions with "unprecedented resolution," was also funded by Wellington and the US-based Environmental Defense Fund.

The satellite, plagued by technical issues, recently stopped responding to commands from its controllers on Earth.

"Clearly, this is a disappointing development," stated Andrew Johnson, a senior official at the New Zealand Space Agency. "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 that this setback would not end their methane-tracking endeavors.

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 oil and gas projects across the globe has proven to be a considerable challenge.

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

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

"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," Hamburg wrote on LinkedIn.

MethaneSAT was launched into space in March 2024 aboard a SpaceX rocket launched from California.

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

They confirmed that the satellite had lost all power on Monday of this week 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 shorter-than-expected operational lifespan, MethaneSAT hailed the mission as a "remarkable success in terms of scientific and technological accomplishment."

Bezos invested over US$100 million into the project through his philanthropic Earth Fund.

The satellite ultimately succumbed after facing a series of technical glitches, including repeatedly entering a sleep mode without prompting, forcing engineers to perform time-consuming resets. Additionally, one of its three thrusters failed.