A New Eye in the Sky: how MethaneSAT aims to tackle Climate Change.
On March 5, 2024, a new era in atmospheric monitoring began as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California carrying a payload that aims to help solve one of the biggest puzzles in climate science - pinpointing the sources of methane emissions.
One particular satellite on board, MethaneSAT, has the potential to be a game-changer in the fight against climate change.
Why is MethaneSAT a big deal?
Steven Hamburg, chief scientist for the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), who led the MethaneSAT project, states: "The beauty of having MethaneSAT is we don't have to ask oil companies permission nicely to go on site and make measurements, right?"
MethaneSAT is specifically designed to detect methane, a greenhouse gas: about 30% of current global warming can be attributed to human-caused methane emissions.
Unlike previous methods that often relied on industry self-reporting or limited access to data, MethaneSAT will provide freely available information, empowering regulators and the public to hold companies accountable.
The data collected by MethaneSAT could be instrumental in strengthening existing regulations and potentially leading to the implementation of stricter measures to curb methane emissions from the oil and gas sector.
Over the coming months, MethaneSAT's high-resolution maps of pollution hotspots around oil fields, pipelines and LNG facilities worldwide will come into sharp focus. This new window into the invisible threat of methane paves the way towards a cleaner and sustainable energy future for us all.
The space industry and satellite technology are constantly evolving and have the potential to solve some of the world's biggest challenges and improve our lives in countless ways.
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Real Estate | Early-Stage Business Investor | Advisor and Board Member | ICF Accredited Coach
4moTerrific article! Captures your journey very well. Awesome to see where you are and I know the future of Plantd is grand!