The launch, part of the SpaceX Transporter-11 Rideshare mission, marks a significant milestone for the Carbon Mapper Coalition.
Bloomberg-Backed Coalition to Launch Satellite for Tracking Methane Emissions
On Friday, a coalition leveraging NASA-developed technology and supported by philanthropists, including former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, will launch its first satellite designed to detect methane leaks from space. This landmark event represents a significant advancement for the Carbon Mapper Coalition, a partnership established in 2021 to address the pressing issue of methane emissions and their impact on climate change.
Why It’s Important
The upcoming launch is part of the SpaceX Transporter-11 Rideshare mission, marking a crucial milestone for the Carbon Mapper Coalition. This initiative includes prominent entities such as NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, satellite firm Planet Labs, RMI, and Arizona State University. The coalition’s efforts are financially supported by several major donors, including the High Tide Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, Zegar Family Foundation, and Children’s Investment Fund Foundation.
The satellite, named Tanager-1, is engineered to identify methane leaks from specific facilities like oil refineries and landfills. This technology is pivotal for aiding industries in locating and sealing leaks, with the data made accessible via a public online portal. The primary goal is to enhance transparency and support efforts in mitigating methane emissions, which are crucial for combating climate change.
Carbon Mapper has ambitious plans to deploy additional satellites in the near future. When fully operational, these satellites are expected to monitor up to 90% of the world’s major methane plumes on a daily basis. This extensive monitoring capability is vital for identifying and addressing significant methane sources, which are integral to making the substantial emission reductions required to prevent the most severe consequences of climate change.
Key Quote
Richard Lawrence, founder of the High Tide Foundation, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “There is more momentum than ever to act on climate. But a lack of public and private investment in global methane and CO2 monitoring has left gaps that leave many emissions untracked and unaddressed.”
By the Numbers
Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is more than 80 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide over its first 20 years. “Super-emitters,” which are sources emitting more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of methane per hour, can contribute between 20% and 60% of total emissions in some sectors, according to Riley Duren, Chief Executive of Carbon Mapper. Addressing these super-emitter sources is critical for achieving the necessary reductions in methane emissions.
The launch of Tanager-1 will occur at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, with a 53-minute launch window opening at 11:20 a.m. local time (1820 GMT). SpaceX’s role in this mission underscores the growing collaboration between private space companies and environmental initiatives to tackle global challenges.