Methane is a primary greenhouse gas, which traps heat in the atmosphere, influencing changes in our global climate. But tracking the exact source of methane emissions, most of which are caused by accidental leakage during fossil-fuel production, is challenging. So how do you find gas that you can neither see nor smell? MethaneSAT, expected to launch in early 2024, will have the ability to locate and measure methane emissions across the globe and will provide data to help to reduce methane emissions, fostering a more sustainable world.

MethaneSAT is designed to locate and precisely measure methane emissions around the world with a precision and at a scale never before achieved, giving decision makers a new ability to track, quantify and reduce these emissions. It will regularly monitor regions with high oil and gas production, as well as emissions from industrial agriculture and other human-made methane sources.

The mission is being developed by MethaneSAT, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Incorporated, a leading international nonprofit organization.