Technology monitors methane emissions from the oil and gas sector; data will be shared publicly and free of charge
BAE Systems celebrates with its partners at the U.S. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) the successful launch of the MethaneSAT satellite from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at the beginning of March.
The satellite will provide reliable scientific data on the sources and scale of methane emissions around the world, with the ultimate aim of promoting measures to reduce the gas in the atmosphere.
MethaneSAT’s main instrument features a spectrometer developed by BAE Systems that is responsible for identifying and quantifying methane emissions by measuring the narrow part of an infrared beam where the gas absorbs light reflected by the Earth. The satellite will monitor emissions from the oil and gas sector, which accounts for around 40% of all man-made methane emissions. It will also have the ability to revisit the same sites on a daily basis in most cases.
“MethaneSAT will play a key role in assisting us to understand and remediate global greenhouse gas emissions,” said Dr. Alberto Conti, Vice President and General Manager of Civil Space at BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems. “This satellite will enhance our ability to identify and track emissions from their source, empowering stakeholders and the public with actionable data to drive reductions. We thank our partners at the Environmental Defense Fund for leading this mission and look forward to seeing the changes it will bring.”
BAE Systems worked with scientists from the FDA and MethaneSAT LLC, to design and build the main instrument. The company also led spacecraft integration and environmental testing and will provide commissioning services, which is the process between launch and entry into service, positioning the satellite in the correct orbit and testing the systems on board. This is a new aerospace capability developed by BAE Systems, which already has a strong presence in the sector.
Upon completion of commissioning, the FDA will launch a cloud-based platform in partnership with Google to distribute MethaneSAT data publicly and free of charge, ensuring that the data is easily accessible to all.
“MethaneSAT is a unique instrument with demanding specifications,” said Peter Vedder, MethaneSAT’s senior director of mission systems. “It is designed to detect methane emissions that other satellites cannot, with unprecedented accuracy. BAE Systems has helped us push the boundaries to offer a powerful new tool to protect the climate.”
MethaneSAT was launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
*** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***