MethaneSAT Launched to Monitor Global Methane Emissions

The Environmental Defense Fund's satellite aims to identify and reduce methane leaks from oil and gas operations, a significant step towards mitigating climate change.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched MethaneSAT, a satellite designed to monitor methane emissions worldwide, marking a significant advancement in environmental monitoring.
Funded by the Environmental Defense Fund, MethaneSAT is the first satellite owned by an environmental nonprofit and aims to provide near real-time data on methane emissions.
Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is responsible for approximately 30 percent of current warming, with the oil and gas sector being a major source of emissions.
The satellite's high-resolution infrared sensor will enable the detection of methane emissions from oil and gas fields globally, facilitating efforts to curb these emissions.
Collaborations with Google and regulatory actions in the EU and the US are expected to leverage MethaneSAT data for environmental policy and accountability.