MethaneSat down: how New Zealand space ambitions fell off the radar
The Guardian - ScienceWednesday, July 9, 2025 at 1:10:58 AM
A high-profile New Zealand space mission hit a major snag when MethaneSat—a satellite designed to track greenhouse gas emissions—failed just before local scientists were set to take control. The NZ$29 million project, which had significant government backing, was poised to deliver crucial climate data and scientific returns. For lead researcher Sara Mikaloff-Fletcher, the loss was a gut punch, leaving the team reeling from both the scientific and financial setback.
Editor’s Note: This isn’t just a technical hiccup—it’s a blow to New Zealand’s growing ambitions in space research and climate science. The satellite was a key tool in the fight against methane emissions, and its failure wastes years of effort and taxpayer money. For a small nation trying to carve out a niche in space, setbacks like this sting extra hard.
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