• An $88 million methane tracking satellite backed by Jeff Bezos has been lost in space.
• The satellite, named MethaneSAT, detected methane emissions from oil and gas operations worldwide.
• Communication was lost approximately ten days ago; recovery is unlikely.
• The project was part of a broader commitment to reduce global methane emissions, but setbacks hinder progress.
• The Environmental Defense Fund reported the loss, indicating ongoing investigations into the incident.

A satellite designed to monitor greenhouse gas emissions, backed by billionaire Jeff Bezos, has been lost in space, proving to be a significant setback in climate change initiatives. The MethaneSAT satellite, which cost $88 million, aimed to provide detailed emissions data from oil and gas facilities globally. It was launched in March 2024 but lost communication with ground controllers about ten days ago, as reported by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), which oversaw the initiative and funded by partners including Google and the New Zealand government, according to Channel News Asia and BBC.

The last known position of MethaneSAT was above Svalbard, Norway. EDF indicated that the satellite had lost power and recovery efforts were not expected. "Clearly, this is a disappointing development," remarked Andrew Johnson from the New Zealand Space Agency. Despite the loss, EDF considers the project's achievements valuable for the larger fight against methane emissions, as indicated by statements from Amy Middleton, EDF's senior vice president, in multiple reports, including India Times and Dawn.

The MethaneSAT project aimed to provide accurate emission estimates, a challenging task attributed to the dispersed nature of methane sources, especially from oil and gas production. Initial data had shown emissions significantly higher than reported, with measurements from regions in Texas and the Caspian Sea greatly exceeding estimates by U.S. environmental authorities. Project lead Steven Hamburg noted the satellite's potential benefits in addressing emission-related issues, emphasizing that it gathered crucial data before the loss, as stated by India Times and BBC.

Despite losing this advanced satellite, EDF stressed a commitment to continue monitoring methane emissions using other technologies, including aircraft equipped with spectrometers. The organization also confirmed they would investigate the satellite’s malfunction thoroughly. The loss of MethaneSAT comes at a time when international commitments to curb methane emissions by 30% by 2030 face significant challenges, while emissions continue to rise, as reported by Channel News Asia and BBC.