Bezos-backed Methane-tracking Satellite Lost in Space
Designed to measure greenhouse gas emissions with "unprecedented resolution", the MethaneSAT space probe was also funded by Wellington and the US-based Environmental Defense Fund.
Plagued with technical problems, the satellite recently stopped responding to its Earth-bound controllers.
"Clearly, this is a disappointing development," said Andrew Johnson, a senior official at the New Zealand Space Agency.
"As those who work in the space sector know, space is inherently challenging, and every attempt -- successful or not -- pushes the boundaries of what we know and what we're capable of."
The Environmental Defense Fund, which led the project, said it was "difficult news" but would not be the end of its methane-tracking efforts.
MethaneSAT was designed to measure emissions of the potent greenhouse gas, which fuels climate change by trapping heat in the planet's atmosphere.
It has proven notoriously difficult to get accurate estimates of the methane emissions belched out by oil and gas projects around the globe.
"It was one of the most advanced methane tracking satellites in space, measuring methane emissions in oil and gas producing regions across the world," the MethaneSAT team said.
Project lead Steven Hamburg said initial data gleaned by the satellite was "remarkable".
"Recent measurements in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico revealed emissions three to five times higher than estimated by the US Environmental Protection Agency, while emissions observed in the South Caspian region are over 10 times higher than reported," Hamburg wrote on LinkedIn.
MethaneSAT was launched into space in March 2024 on the back of a SpaceX rocket fired from California.
Controllers first lost contact with the satellite on June 20, the MethaneSAT team said in a statement.
They confirmed it had lost all power on Monday this week and was "likely not recoverable".
"The engineering team is conducting a thorough investigation into the loss of communication," MethaneSAT said, according to AFP.
"This is expected to take time. We will share what we learn."
Despite its shorter-than-expected lifespan, MethaneSAT hailed the mission as a "remarkable success in terms of scientific and technological accomplishment".
Amazon founder Bezos pumped more than US$100 million into the project through his philanthropic Earth Fund.
The satellite eventually succumbed after overcoming a string of technical glitches.
It repeatedly entered a sleep, or stand-by, mode without prompting -- forcing engineers to perform a lengthy reset each time.
One of its three thrusters also failed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
5 days ago
- Arab News
Safeguarding biodiversity in a warming world
As global temperatures continue to rise, the resulting biodiversity loss has become one of the most urgent and underappreciated climate challenges. Yet within this crisis lies a tremendous opportunity for nations to lead with innovation, foresight, and inclusivity. Saudi Arabia, through its Vision 2030 reforms, is uniquely positioned to offer a regional model for protecting nature while advancing climate resilience and sustainable development. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded globally, with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts reporting an average surface temperature of 15.10 degrees Celsius — approximately 1.52 C above pre-industrial levels and 0.12 C warmer than 2023. This marks the first time global temperatures have exceeded the 1.5 C threshold for an entire calendar year, signaling an alarming acceleration in warming trends. Climate-induced warming is now one of the top five drivers of biodiversity loss, exacerbating other pressures such as land degradation and pollution. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that even small increases in global temperature can push entire ecosystems past tipping points, with desert, coastal, and coral reef ecosystems particularly vulnerable. The fact that each of the past two years set new records underscores the urgency of systemic climate action. In Saudi Arabia, biodiversity loss linked to climate change is increasingly visible. Marine heatwaves in the Red Sea have triggered extensive coral bleaching, affecting reefs that support more than 5,000 species, including fish, corals, invertebrates, marine mammals, seabirds, and mollusks, and contribute billions to the coastal economy. On land, extreme heat and reduced rainfall are accelerating desertification and shrinking the range of numerous native species such as the Arabian leopard, Asir magpie, and acacia trees. A recent study found that many Middle Eastern mammals may lose over 40 percent of their viable habitat by 2050 under high-emissions scenarios. Saudi Arabia is taking a proactive approach to environmental challenges. Through the Saudi Green Initiative, the Kingdom has placed nature-based solutions and climate adaptation at the heart of its national strategy. Since 2021, over 115 million native trees have been planted, more than 118,000 hectares have undergone ecological rehabilitation, and 18.1 percent of land has been designated for protection, with a goal to reach 30 percent by 2030. The role of science and technology in scaling these efforts is expanding rapidly. Saudi Arabia is integrating advanced tools such as LiDAR, hyperspectral imaging, and artificial intelligence-enabled species distribution models to identify climate-resilient restoration zones and track progress in real time. These tools allow conservation authorities to prioritize interventions where ecosystems can be most effectively protected or rehabilitated. At the heart of Saudi Arabia's environmental transformation is a growing conviction that protecting nature is essential to securing the nation's future. Adnan Masoudy & Hassan Alzain Local institutions such as the National Center for Wildlife and the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve have spearheaded the reintroduction of endangered species, including the Arabian oryx and houbara bustard, supported by climate-informed ecological planning. In parallel, marine biodiversity is being enhanced through coastal restoration, such as the regeneration of mangroves and seagrass beds, which not only store carbon but also buffer storm surges and enhance fisheries. These efforts are widely recognized as integral to Saudi Arabia's broader coastal resilience strategies. At the heart of Saudi Arabia's environmental transformation is a growing conviction that protecting nature is essential to securing the nation's future. Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, captures this emerging sense of purpose. 'Our vision for the future is clear: a Saudi Arabia where wildlife thrives, habitats are restored, and the natural balance is maintained for the benefit of all,' he said recently. 'NCW's dedication to protecting Saudi Arabia's natural legacy remains unwavering. We are confident that, with continued effort and collaboration, we can build a future where the natural world is preserved for generations to come.' This vision underscores the critical link between biodiversity stewardship and climate resilience — and affirms that conservation is not a peripheral effort, but a national imperative and a central pillar of the Kingdom's long-term sustainable development, environmental security, and economic resilience. Moreover, experts in the region echo the importance of strategic integration. As Chris Boland, director of the Arabian Biodiversity Consultancy, notes: 'Climate change isn't just reshaping ecosystems — it's rewriting the rules of conservation. Saudi Arabia has a unique opportunity to unite traditional ecological wisdom with cutting-edge science to protect its species and landscapes. This is not only about conserving biodiversity, but about future-proofing the Kingdom's natural heritage in a rapidly warming world. It's now or never.' His insight underscores the need for adaptive, forward-thinking strategies that address the complexities of conservation under uncertainty. Saudi Arabia's ambitions are further strengthened by linking biodiversity with economic development. The Dasgupta Review emphasized that biodiversity must be treated as an asset, not an externality, in national accounts. In this spirit, the Kingdom is exploring biodiversity credits, conservation-linked bonds, and blended finance to attract private investment into restoration. These market mechanisms, coupled with sovereign green bonds, can align conservation goals with Vision 2030's broader diversification agenda. Adaptation frameworks are equally essential. Dynamic adaptive policy pathways and robust decision-making offer decision-makers the tools to navigate uncertainty, evaluate trade-offs, and update strategies as conditions evolve. These approaches, already used in water and urban planning, can be applied to biodiversity governance, helping Saudi Arabia optimize restoration under climate variability. Saudi Arabia, through its Vision 2030 reforms, is uniquely positioned to offer a regional model for protecting nature while advancing climate resilience and sustainable development. Adnan Masoudy & Hassan Alzain Public engagement is another critical pillar. Burgeoning community-led initiatives are improving rangeland management and enhancing traditional conservation practices. Incorporating indigenous knowledge into policy design ensures that local needs and ecological wisdom are respected, while increasing legitimacy and social buy-in. Three strategic steps can help position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in biodiversity protection by aligning conservation efforts with scientific best practices, international collaboration, and inclusive public engagement. First, develop a national biodiversity and climate resilience dashboard that integrates remote sensing, AI, and open-access tools to inform policymakers and the public. Second, scale partnerships with international initiatives such as the Global Biodiversity Framework, the Global Mangrove Alliance, and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration to access knowledge, finance, and innovation. Third, expand environmental literacy by embedding biodiversity education into national curricula and encouraging sensitive eco-tourism that fosters appreciation for native ecosystems. The benefits of these actions are both local and global. For example, a recent study published in Nature Sustainability estimates that effective ecosystem restoration in arid environments can increase water retention by up to 25 percent and reduce heat stress in nearby communities by as much as 4 C. Another study in Global Change Biology found that restoring mangroves can deliver co-benefits for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and fisheries yield within just five years. Saudi Arabia's climate and environmental strategy reflects a growing international consensus: Protecting biodiversity is not only essential for ecological stability but also contributes directly to long-term sustainable development. Investing in biodiversity safeguards vital ecosystem services — such as clean water, fertile soils, pollination, and climate regulation — that underpin food security, health, and economic growth. As Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasized during the launch of the Saudi Green Initiative in 2021, environmental stewardship is a foundation for intergenerational prosperity and global cooperation. Ultimately, climate action and biodiversity protection are two sides of the same coin. This linkage has been central to international frameworks such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity. The outcomes of the recent UN Biodiversity Conference, which led to the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to conserve 30 percent of land and oceans by 2030, and UNFCCC COP29, which emphasized nature-based solutions and ecosystem resilience in adaptation planning, underscore the need for countries to adopt integrated strategies that address both crises simultaneously. Saudi Arabia's contributions to and alignment with these global goals demonstrate a strong commitment to the evolving agenda. While its progress remains comparable to many nations, its scale of ambition, particularly through the Saudi Green Initiative and ecological restoration pledges, places it in an increasingly influential position within international environmental discourse. • Adnan Masoudy is manager of corporate sustainability, environment, and biodiversity at Ma'aden. • Hassan Alzain is author of the award-winning book 'Green Gambit.'
Arab News
6 days ago
- Arab News
Pakistan says satellite launch with China reflects friendship ‘higher than the skies'
BEIJING: Pakistan's Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said recently that Islamabad and Beijing's collaboration, which resulted in the successful launch of a Pakistani Remote Sensing Satellite, shows that the bilateral friendship between the two nations is 'higher than the skies.' China launched the Pakistan satellite (PRSS-1) from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Jul. 31. The satellite, being primarily used in the fields of land resource surveys and disaster prevention and mitigation, will help promote the development of Pakistan, Iqbal said in a recent interview with the China Central Television (CCTV). 'This [satellite] is becoming a very important tool for development of mankind in future,' Iqbal said. 'Because through satellite technology and communication, you can observe earth to prevent or to manage disasters.' He said one can manage the agriculture sector 'better' with the use of satellites and even cities as well. The Pakistani minister said there are so many economic applications that satellites offer and promise, adding that 'this is key to our futures.' 'With this launch of satellite, I can proudly say that Pakistan-China friendship, which used to be higher than the Himalayas, now is higher than the sky,' he concluded. The satellite launch marked another step in Pakistan's growing engagement with outer space with Chinese assistance. The two countries are also preparing to send the first Pakistani astronaut into space aboard China's Tiangong space station, with training programs currently underway.
Arab News
7 days ago
- Arab News
Great Barrier Reef records largest annual coral loss in 39 years
MELBOURNE: The Great Barrier Reef has experienced its greatest annual loss of live coral across most of its expanse in four decades of record-keeping, Australian authorities say. But due to increasing coral cover since 2017, the coral deaths — caused mainly by bleaching last year associated with climate change — have left the area of living coral across the iconic reef system close to its long-term average, the Australian Institute of Marine Science said in its annual survey on Wednesday. The change underscores a new level of volatility on the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the report said. Mike Emslie, who heads the tropical marine research agency's long-term monitoring program, said the live coral cover measured in 2024 was the largest recorded in 39 years of surveys. The losses from such a high base of coral cover had partially cushioned the serious climate impacts on the world's largest reef ecosystem, which covers 344,000 square kilometers (133,000 square miles) off the northeast Australian coast, he said. 'These are substantial impacts and evidence that the increasing frequency of coral bleaching is really starting to have detrimental effects on the Great Barrier Reef,' Emslie said on Thursday. 'While there's still a lot of coral cover out there, these are record declines that we have seen in any one year of monitoring,' he added. Emslie's agency divides the Great Barrier Reef, which extends 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) along the Queensland state coast, into three similarly-sized regions: northern, central and southern. Living coral cover shrunk by almost a third in the south in a year, a quarter in the north and by 14 percent in the central region, the report said. Because of record global heat in 2023 and 2024, the world is still going through its biggest — and fourth ever recorded — mass coral bleaching event on record, with heat stress hurting nearly 84 percent of the world's coral reef area, including the Great Barrier Reef, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's coral reef watch. So far at least 83 countries have been impacted. This bleaching event started in January 2023 and was declared a global crisis in April 2024. It easily eclipsed the previous biggest global coral bleaching event, from 2014 to 2017, when 68.2 percent had bleaching from heat stress. Large areas around Australia — but not the Great Barrier Reef — hit the maximum or near maximum of bleaching alert status during this latest event. Australia in March this year started aerial surveys of 281 reefs across the Torres Strait and the entire northern Great Barrier Reef and found widespread coral bleaching. Of the 281 reefs, 78 were more than 30 percent bleached. Coral has a hard time thriving and at times even surviving in prolonged hot water. They can survive short bursts, but once certain thresholds of weeks and high temperatures are passed, the coral is bleached, which means it turns white because it expels the algae that live in the tissue and give them their colors. Bleached corals are not dead, but they are weaker and more vulnerable to disease. Coral reefs often bounce back from these mass global bleaching events, but often they are not as strong as they were before. Coral reefs are considered a 'unique and threatened system' due to climate change and are especially vulnerable to global warming beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change proclaimed in 2018. The world has now warmed 1.3 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times. That report said 'tropical corals may be even more vulnerable to climate change than indicated in assessments made in 2014.' The report said back-to-back big bleaching events at the Great Barrier Reef in the mid 2010s 'suggest that the research community may have underestimated climate risks for coral reefs.' 'Warm water (tropical) coral reefs are projected to reach a very high risk of impact at 1.2°C, with most available evidence suggesting that coral-dominated ecosystems will be non-existent at this temperature or higher. At this point, coral abundance will be near zero at many locations,' the report said.
