“We want to expand this campaign worldwide”

SpaceX launched a new methane detection satellite in August, and it could be the first of many if the nonprofit organization behind it, CarbonMapper, is anything to go by.

As Bloomberg reports, the Tanager-1 is the second of its kind launched by a nonprofit organization this year. The Environmental Defense Fund launched its own project in March.

The Tanager-1 has impressive capabilities at a size no larger than a mini-fridge, according to Bloomberg. The satellite can detect methane pollution within 50 meters, allowing Carbon Mapper to identify individual polluters. It will float several hundred miles above Earth.

Bloomberg notes that the targets of surveillance will be major polluters, such as oil and gas wells, livestock farms and landfills. The goal is to scale to a fleet of more than 10 satellites, which would allow CarbonMapper to achieve 90% global coverage with minimal time gaps.

There is good reason for the growing focus on methane. The heating power of methane on the planet is up to 80 times higher than that of carbon dioxide in the first 20 years. According to a report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), methane pollution also increased in 2023, approaching record levels.

On the positive side, the IEA writes that the biggest methane polluting countries, such as the United States, are making major commitments that could stem the tide and align with the goal of 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit global warming. This is where responsibility to these promises comes into play.

Satellites have the potential to alert government regulators to unexpected methane plumes. This could be important for public safety and accountability against polluters. Additionally, it could allow consumers to identify gas suppliers that are more vulnerable to methane leaks, giving providers an incentive to clean up their act, literally.

Harvard professor Daniel Jacob, an expert in atmospheric chemistry, expressed cautious optimism about the launch to Bloomberg, praising its cost-effectiveness and performance.

He noted that the technology feels “somewhat exotic” to regulators like the EPA, which prefer more primitive handheld devices. Jacob says it’s a “terrible” way to measure pollution, but easier to understand.

Still, Carbon Mapper CEO Riley Duren pointed out that their air pollution surveys are revealing to regulators tons of undetected methane leaks and that satellites can extend their reach.

“In almost 50% of cases, more than half of what we saw was unknown to them,” Duren said. “We want to expand this campaign worldwide,” he added.

With global surveillance via satellites, his wish will soon come true.

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