BAE Systems say that it is celebrating alongside its customers at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) following the successful launch of the MethaneSAT satellite from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The satellite will provide the public with reliable scientific data about the sources and scale of methane emissions globally, with the ultimate goal of driving reductions in the near future.

According to the firm, MethaneSAT’s primary instrument includes a BAE Systems-built spectrometer that will identify and quantify methane emissions by measuring the narrow part of the infrared spectrum where the gas absorbs light reflected off the Earth.

“The satellite will monitor emissions from the oil and gas sector, which accounts for about 40% of all human-caused methane emissions, and it will be able to revisit the same sites daily in most instances. MethaneSAT will also fill a gap in existing remote methane monitoring capabilities, offering high-precision emissions mapping over a broad 200km by 200km field of view. This satellite will further complement existing methane-monitoring satellites that focus on either larger scales or detecting point sources.”

“MethaneSAT will make a critical difference in helping us better understand and remedy global greenhouse gas emissions,” said Dr. Alberto Conti, vice president and general manager of Civil Space for BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems.

“MethaneSAT will advance our ability to identify and track emissions from their source, empowering stakeholders and the public with actionable data to enable reductions. We are thankful to our customers at the Environmental Defense Fund for developing this crucial mission, and we look forward to seeing all the change it will bring.”

MethaneSAT launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Lisa West
Lisa has a degree in Media & Communication from Glasgow Caledonian University and works with industry news, sifting through press releases in addition to moderating website comments.

14 COMMENTS

    • Apparently, His net worth last year was a paltry 14,000.000 £££’s ….. (£14 Million for those who struggle with Maths…. you know who you are Rodders !!!! ) His Gas emissions were mostly followed through with solid evidence…..

      • Why abolish NI.

        If you want to sell off the NHS, hypothecate NI to NHS and State Pension.

        Then listen as people don’t want triple lock pension or, conversion therapy / treatments on the NHS tax bill.

        • I find the abolishing NI thing very odd.

          The welfare state was originally an insurance scheme and I’d rather favour the linkage between pay-in and pay-out being restored.

          If you listen to Bevan’s speeches he rails against ‘slackers & scroungers’ yes really his words not mine. He *knew* what it would turn into if you broke that all important link.

          Treasury hates hypothecation as it limits their power to give or withhold budgets.

  1. When this on the news last night, I though I saw in bottom of the the video showing the satellite assembly a text bobs say it was from BAE Systems

    • Typical their role wasn’t mentioned, now if Alan Sugar had rented them a van to carry it to Vandenberg he would likely have been portrayed as the genius behind the whole project due to his decades of experience with hot air no doubt. (Just a cynical in my view microcosm of how Britain sells itself at home or abroad)

      • very true, always think when I see Alan Sugar on the TV, how poor the quality was of some of the electronics stuff he sold

  2. I’m off on my monthly Curry night out with the lads on Thursday BAE don’t pass over Bognor on Friday as your instruments may go off the scale

    • I tend to mostly cook my own now… In large Batches… All Authentic BIR style the hotter the better…. Chicken Phall will Reaper Chili powder is the dogs….

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