Methane-tracking satellite backed by Bezos lost in space
Times of India - ScienceWednesday, July 2, 2025 at 10:19:08 AM
A high-profile climate satellite called MethaneSAT, funded by Jeff Bezos and New Zealand, has gone dark in space after running into technical trouble. The $88 million mission was designed to track methane emissions—a major contributor to global warming—but now appears lost, dealing a blow to efforts to monitor greenhouse gases from orbit.
Editor’s Note: Losing MethaneSAT is more than just an expensive mishap—it’s a setback for climate science. Methane is a supercharged greenhouse gas, and this satellite was supposed to help pinpoint leaks from oil fields, landfills, and other sources. Without it, researchers and regulators have one less tool to hold polluters accountable. The failure also raises questions about the reliability of private-backed space missions, even when they’re tackling urgent problems like climate change.
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