$88-million-dollar satellite used for tracking methane emissions has gone dark

A multi-million-dollar satellite launched to monitor oil and gas emissions has gone dark.

The $88 million project, funded by names like Jeff Bezos, was launched early last year. Now, the Environmental Defense Fund says the device has lost all power and is likely not recoverable. Project managers say they are still looking into what went wrong.

The satellite was designed to monitor methane usage and publicly release that data. Dairy groups have long voiced concerns over devices used for methane monitoring, saying the industry is often unfairly targeted.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

U.S. Farmers Navigate Harvest Pace, Costs, Policy Shifts
Land values are increasing faster than farm income, making it more challenging for young and beginning farmers to expand, but supporting equity for current landowners.
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, Crop Insurance, and a Business Planning Complication
Smaller slaughter numbers across beef and pork signal tighter supplies into late 2025, while record-low veal production highlights ongoing structural changes in the sector.
UC Davis Professor and Extension Specialist Dr. Frank Mitloehner joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to preview the festivities and share why this event has become such a special tradition for the ag community.
Beal joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to discuss her election to NASDA’s presidency, challenges facing American agriculture, and her background as a Mainer and dairy farmer.