A satellite designed to track methane emissions—one of the most powerful greenhouse gases—has mysteriously disappeared in space, dealing a significant setback to global climate-monitoring efforts.
MethaneSat, backed by Google and billionaire Jeff Bezos, was launched last year aboard a SpaceX rocket. The satellite was intended to collect five years’ worth of data on methane leaks, particularly from oil and gas operations, and to identify major violators in emissions.
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the nonprofit overseeing the mission, announced that communication with the satellite was lost ten days ago. An investigation is now underway to determine what caused the failure.
The disappearance of MethaneSat highlights the fragility of even the most advanced environmental technologies. Its mission was not only scientific but political—aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in one of the most polluting sectors. Without it, a crucial tool in the fight against climate change is now missing.