BAE Systems and EDF launch MethaneSAT to revolutionize global methane emissions monitoring

BAE Systems and EDF launch MethaneSAT to revolutionize global methane emissions monitoring
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 05, 2024

BAE Systems (LON: BA) and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) have successfully launched MethaneSAT, a cutting-edge satellite designed to provide unprecedented insights into methane emissions across the globe. The launch, which took place at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marks a significant step forward in the fight against climate change, leveraging advanced satellite technology to identify, quantify, and ultimately reduce methane emissions.

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, plays a significant role in global warming, with the oil and gas sector contributing to approximately 40% of human-caused methane emissions. MethaneSAT aims to address this challenge head-on by offering high-precision, daily monitoring capabilities over a broad area. At the heart of MethaneSAT is a sophisticated spectrometer built by BAE Systems, capable of detecting methane emissions by analyzing the narrow part of the infrared spectrum where methane absorbs light reflected off the Earth's surface.

This satellite fills a crucial gap in existing methane monitoring efforts, providing high-precision emissions mapping over a 200km by 200km field of view. Such capabilities are set to complement and enhance current satellite-based methane monitoring, which primarily focuses on larger scale observations or the detection of point sources.

Dr. Alberto Conti, Vice President and General Manager of Civil Space for BAE Systems Space and Mission Systems, emphasized the importance of MethaneSAT in understanding and addressing greenhouse gas emissions. "MethaneSAT will advance our ability to identify and track emissions from their source, empowering stakeholders and the public with actionable data to enable reductions," Conti stated, expressing gratitude towards EDF for spearheading this crucial mission.

The collaboration between BAE Systems, EDF, and MethaneSAT, LLC, has been instrumental in bringing this mission to life, from the design and building of the primary instrument to spacecraft integration and environmental testing. Following the commissioning phase, EDF, in partnership with Google, plans to launch a cloud-based platform to distribute MethaneSAT data publicly and free of charge, ensuring widespread access to this vital information.

Peter Vedder, Senior Director for Mission Systems at MethaneSAT, highlighted the unique capabilities of the instrument, noting its ability to detect methane emissions with unprecedented precision. "BAE Systems helped us push the envelope to deliver a powerful new tool for protecting the climate," Vedder remarked.