Questions about the status of MethaneSat in the NZ press:
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Lack of transparency over $29m MethaneSAT government satellite, astronomers say
The space agency in charge has refused to say why staff and students at Auckland University are not driving the MethaneSAT satellite by now, as promised.
www.rnz.co.nz
March 2, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Questions about the status of MethaneSat in the NZ press:
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
That stinks
MethaneSAT Loses Contact with Satellite
www.methanesat.org
July 1, 2025 at 11:23 PM
That stinks
The EDF's MethaneSat satellite failed entirely on Jun 20, after a year of troubled commissioning: www.methanesat.org/project-upda...
MethaneSAT Loses Contact with Satellite
www.methanesat.org
July 3, 2025 at 4:25 AM
The EDF's MethaneSat satellite failed entirely on Jun 20, after a year of troubled commissioning: www.methanesat.org/project-upda...
This is extremely sad.
Methane is an incredibly potent greenhouse gas, and it's notoriously tricky to track down its sources.
This satellite was a vital weapon in our arsenal. Without it, our defences are seriously compromised.
www.methanesat.org/project-upda...
Methane is an incredibly potent greenhouse gas, and it's notoriously tricky to track down its sources.
This satellite was a vital weapon in our arsenal. Without it, our defences are seriously compromised.
www.methanesat.org/project-upda...
MethaneSAT Loses Contact with Satellite
www.methanesat.org
July 1, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Reupping this. It looks technical and "inside the beltway" -- but it's about whether the New Zealand government was told the truth about MethaneSAT.
And, ultimately, whether the New Zealand taxpayer was told the truth about the MethaneSAT by the New Zealand government.
And, ultimately, whether the New Zealand taxpayer was told the truth about the MethaneSAT by the New Zealand government.
Behind the Herald paywall but also on the front page of the print edition
MethaneSAT @methanesat.bsky.social is reviewing its management of its relationship with New Zealand, after concerns were expressed that they violated their parent organisation's Code of Ethical Conduct 1/n
MethaneSAT @methanesat.bsky.social is reviewing its management of its relationship with New Zealand, after concerns were expressed that they violated their parent organisation's Code of Ethical Conduct 1/n
July 14, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Reupping this. It looks technical and "inside the beltway" -- but it's about whether the New Zealand government was told the truth about MethaneSAT.
And, ultimately, whether the New Zealand taxpayer was told the truth about the MethaneSAT by the New Zealand government.
And, ultimately, whether the New Zealand taxpayer was told the truth about the MethaneSAT by the New Zealand government.
Bad news - it looks like MethaneSat is dead
"the satellite has lost power, and that is likely not recoverable"
That's huge shame for the team, and for monitoring of this potent greenhouse gas
www.methanesat.org/project-upda...
"the satellite has lost power, and that is likely not recoverable"
That's huge shame for the team, and for monitoring of this potent greenhouse gas
www.methanesat.org/project-upda...
MethaneSAT Loses Contact with Satellite
www.methanesat.org
July 1, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Bad news - it looks like MethaneSat is dead
"the satellite has lost power, and that is likely not recoverable"
That's huge shame for the team, and for monitoring of this potent greenhouse gas
www.methanesat.org/project-upda...
"the satellite has lost power, and that is likely not recoverable"
That's huge shame for the team, and for monitoring of this potent greenhouse gas
www.methanesat.org/project-upda...
It's a shame Aotearoa/New Zealand's MethaneSat can no longer contribute to methane monitoring (the satellite has failed). 🧪
Such sad news but what a great project. With pressure, we can get a handle on this.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Revealed: the world’s worst mega-leaks of methane driving global heating
Exclusive: Fixing a leak can be simple and equivalent to closing a coal power station, making lack of action maddening, say analysts
www.theguardian.com
March 18, 2026 at 6:46 AM
It's a shame Aotearoa/New Zealand's MethaneSat can no longer contribute to methane monitoring (the satellite has failed). 🧪
What happened to Aotearoa/New Zealand's flagship environmental monitoring satellite?
🧪 🔭 #MethaneSat
🧪 🔭 #MethaneSat
excursionset.com
March 16, 2026 at 5:17 AM
What happened to Aotearoa/New Zealand's flagship environmental monitoring satellite?
🧪 🔭 #MethaneSat
🧪 🔭 #MethaneSat
Speaking of climate satellites, has anyone heard any reliable information in the last month about what happened to MethaneSat?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
August 4, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Speaking of climate satellites, has anyone heard any reliable information in the last month about what happened to MethaneSat?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Interesting look at the data that MethaneSat, a satelite that monitored methane pollution from oil and gas extraction sites, gathered in its year of operation before it suddenly disappeared.
www.methanesat.org/project-upda...
www.methanesat.org/project-upda...
First look at a system wide view
MethaneSAT data show emissions vary widely by region, exceed inventories & industry’s goals
www.methanesat.org
February 27, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Interesting look at the data that MethaneSat, a satelite that monitored methane pollution from oil and gas extraction sites, gathered in its year of operation before it suddenly disappeared.
www.methanesat.org/project-upda...
www.methanesat.org/project-upda...
MethaneSAT successfully launched today. My story:
New Satellite Will Launch to Track Methane Emissions
Observations from MethaneSat could be used to independently verify industry reports and enforce regulations on fossil fuel companies
www.scientificamerican.com
March 5, 2024 at 4:54 AM
MethaneSAT successfully launched today. My story:
Oh damn! This was a game changing project vision.
MethaneSAT Loses Contact with Satellite
On Friday, June 20, the MethaneSAT mission operations lost contact with MethaneSAT
www.edf.org
July 1, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Oh damn! This was a game changing project vision.
#ResistanceEarth
Before scientists lost contact with MethaneSAT, the the world’s most advanced methane-detecting satellite, they downloaded a year's worth of data showing that methane emissions from oil and gas production far exceed official estimates.
insideclimatenews.org/news/0602202...
Before scientists lost contact with MethaneSAT, the the world’s most advanced methane-detecting satellite, they downloaded a year's worth of data showing that methane emissions from oil and gas production far exceed official estimates.
insideclimatenews.org/news/0602202...
MethaneSAT Releases First Global Assessment of Oil and Gas Climate Pollution - Inside Climate News
Nearly a year after the Environmental Defense Fund lost contact with an $88 million satellite, data from the spacecraft reveal higher-than-expected methane emissions from the oil and gas industry.
insideclimatenews.org
February 7, 2026 at 1:01 AM
#ResistanceEarth
Before scientists lost contact with MethaneSAT, the the world’s most advanced methane-detecting satellite, they downloaded a year's worth of data showing that methane emissions from oil and gas production far exceed official estimates.
insideclimatenews.org/news/0602202...
Before scientists lost contact with MethaneSAT, the the world’s most advanced methane-detecting satellite, they downloaded a year's worth of data showing that methane emissions from oil and gas production far exceed official estimates.
insideclimatenews.org/news/0602202...
This feels like a good day to share some of my previous reporting on MethaneSAT. Links in the thread below.
July 1, 2025 at 10:01 PM
This feels like a good day to share some of my previous reporting on MethaneSAT. Links in the thread below.
MethaneSAT lost 15 months into its 5-year mission. It sought to pinpoint methane leaks and use Google algorithms to map leaking infrastructure — info that many fossil fuel companies keep to themselves. www.science.org/content/arti...
🧪
🧪
Methane tracker lost in space
For nearly 15 months, MethaneSAT helped pinpoint industrial emissions of potent greenhouse gas
www.science.org
July 2, 2025 at 5:34 PM
MethaneSAT lost 15 months into its 5-year mission. It sought to pinpoint methane leaks and use Google algorithms to map leaking infrastructure — info that many fossil fuel companies keep to themselves. www.science.org/content/arti...
🧪
🧪
Folks, here's my take on the @methanesat.bsky.social project - TLDR: they tried for all three of "good, fast and cheap" and wound up with none...
Lost In Space: New Zealand's $30M Participation Trophy
"Good, fast and cheap" MethaneSAT tried for all three and got none.
MBIE and the New Zealand Space Agency missed red flags in the initial bid.
The MethaneSAT project did not keep promises of ope...
excursionset.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Folks, here's my take on the @methanesat.bsky.social project - TLDR: they tried for all three of "good, fast and cheap" and wound up with none...
It appears MethaneSAT has failed in orbit, only about 15 months after launch. www.methanesat.org/project-upda...
MethaneSAT Loses Contact with Satellite
www.methanesat.org
July 1, 2025 at 4:25 PM
It appears MethaneSAT has failed in orbit, only about 15 months after launch. www.methanesat.org/project-upda...
MethaneSat down: how New Zealand space ambitions fell off the radar
MethaneSat down: how New Zealand space ambitions fell off the radar
Satellite built to track emissions fails just as New Zealand scientists about to take control and reap returns of NZ$29m government investment
www.theguardian.com
July 9, 2025 at 2:07 AM
MethaneSat down: how New Zealand space ambitions fell off the radar
So MethaneSAT is being handed back to its makers in Colorado to drive for a while, so they can fix unspecified "challenges"
Makes you wonder what was in those 500 pages of redacted conversations...
www.mbie.govt.nz/about/news/m...
Makes you wonder what was in those 500 pages of redacted conversations...
www.mbie.govt.nz/about/news/m...
MethaneSAT Update, March 2025 | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Joint statement from Andrew Johnson, Deputy Head, NZSA and Steve Hamburg, Project Co-lead, MethaneSAT and Chief Scientist at Environmental Defense Fund
www.mbie.govt.nz
March 5, 2025 at 5:10 AM
So MethaneSAT is being handed back to its makers in Colorado to drive for a while, so they can fix unspecified "challenges"
Makes you wonder what was in those 500 pages of redacted conversations...
www.mbie.govt.nz/about/news/m...
Makes you wonder what was in those 500 pages of redacted conversations...
www.mbie.govt.nz/about/news/m...
Sie werden sich nicht mehr lange verstecken können: www.methanesat.org/data/
MethaneSAT
MethaneSAT | Solving a crucial climate challenge. A subsidiary of @EnvDefenseFund
www.methanesat.org
April 10, 2024 at 9:32 AM
Sie werden sich nicht mehr lange verstecken können: www.methanesat.org/data/
Tech commentator @billbennett.bsky.social takes a look at the MethaneSAT mess @methanesat.bsky.social in his newsletter.
Still plenty of shoes left to drop here. Someone should gather them up.
billbennett.co.nz/comcom-conce...
Still plenty of shoes left to drop here. Someone should gather them up.
billbennett.co.nz/comcom-conce...
Telecommunication Dispute Resolution Scheme needs work
Commerce Commission concerns over telecom disputes scheme, questions around MethaneSAT, update on Southern Cross submarine cable plans
billbennett.co.nz
January 15, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Tech commentator @billbennett.bsky.social takes a look at the MethaneSAT mess @methanesat.bsky.social in his newsletter.
Still plenty of shoes left to drop here. Someone should gather them up.
billbennett.co.nz/comcom-conce...
Still plenty of shoes left to drop here. Someone should gather them up.
billbennett.co.nz/comcom-conce...
This is a cool development. The oil industry has been lying about methane for a long time.
"Google has been working with EDF and MethaneSat to develop a “dynamic methane map that we will make available to the public later this year,” he said during Monday’s briefing."
"Google has been working with EDF and MethaneSat to develop a “dynamic methane map that we will make available to the public later this year,” he said during Monday’s briefing."
EDF and Google partner to map global methane emissions from space
MethaneSat is one of the most ambitious attempts to measure the world’s massive methane problem. Its first satellite is scheduled to launch into orbit next month.
www.canarymedia.com
February 15, 2024 at 3:32 PM
This is a cool development. The oil industry has been lying about methane for a long time.
"Google has been working with EDF and MethaneSat to develop a “dynamic methane map that we will make available to the public later this year,” he said during Monday’s briefing."
"Google has been working with EDF and MethaneSat to develop a “dynamic methane map that we will make available to the public later this year,” he said during Monday’s briefing."
I cannot believe after all of that, they lost MethaneSAT in space.
July 2, 2025 at 12:27 PM
I cannot believe after all of that, they lost MethaneSAT in space.