Latest news with #EnvironmentalDefenceFund
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- Science
- RNZ News
Taxpayer funded satellite had 'deep-seated problems' from launch
Artist's rendering of MethaneSAT, the satellite EDF developed. Photo: Supplied / Environmental Defence Fund An Auckland University physics professor says a taxpayer-funded satellite that is missing in space had persistent and deep-seated problems. The government paid almost $30 million towards MethaneSAT which lost contact on 20 June and is believed to be unrecoverable. New Zealand joined the mission in 2019, hoping to boost science, track farm emissions, and grow our space sector. The mission has been plagued by delays , first to its launch date and then to the arrival of its promised data about global methane emissions. The University of Auckland has been waiting to take over the mission control at its new, partly taxpayer-funded Te Pūnaha Ātea Space Institute. The announcement of the satellite's demise came just two days after the latest deadline for handing control over to university staff and students. University of Auckland physics professor Richard Easther did not work directly on the project but says MethaneSAT has had persistent issues. He told Morning Report losing contact with the satellite was not good news. "There seems to be a consistent effort to put a sort of happy face on the situation but the concern that we have as a community is that MethaneSAT as a space craft seems to have had fairly persistent and deep-seated problems, pretty much from launch." Some of this relates to the decision to use sub systems that don't have what's known as flight heritage, he said. He said for most of the year it had been in orbit, it was not functioning properly. While some good has come out of the mission, it was a lot less than expected, he said. New Zealand Space Agency deputy head Andrew Johnson said every space mission faces risks and unfortunately some had been realised in this mission. Losing contact was "extremely disappointing news, there's no hiding that at all". But the legacy of this investment would live on, he said, like the mission control centre set up at University of Auckland. "That's now given New Zealand the capability to participate in missions in the future." Johnson said he doesn't think the MethaneSAT team mislead anyone. "The reality is all missions face issues, there is a technical judgment about what constitutes 'normal' and that's been an evolving situation but I think when they have had those issues, they have been willing to talk about them and we've certainly had plenty of discussions with them behind the scenes as well." This mission was an important step forward in New Zealand's space industry, he said. EDF, the environmental non-profit behind the satellite mission, says an investigation is underway . "Launched in March 2024, MethaneSAT had been collecting methane emissions data over the past year. 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 mission has been a remarkable success in terms of scientific and technological accomplishment, and for its lasting influence on both industry and regulators worldwide. "The engineering team is conducting a thorough investigation into the loss of communication. This is expected to take time. We will share what we learn." RNZ has been asking about problems with the satellite since September and was previously told its issues were "teething problems". Asked if the public had been kept adequately informed, Minister Judith Collins said she had nothing to add and questions should go to the New Zealand Space Agency, which is part of the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment.
The Age
7 hours ago
- Science
- The Age
A $134 million satellite that keeps an eye on some of the world's biggest companies has disappeared
An $US88 million ($134 million) satellite backed by billionaire Jeff Bezos that detected oil and gas industry emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas methane has been lost in space, the group that operates it said on Tuesday. MethaneSAT had been collecting emissions data and images from drilling sites, pipelines, and processing facilities around the world since March, but went off course around 10 days ago, the Environmental Defence Fund, which led the initiative, said. Its last known location was over Svalbard in Norway and EDF said it did not expect it to be recovered as it had lost power. 'We're seeing this as a setback, not a failure,' Amy Middleton, senior vice president at EDF, told Reuters. Loading 'We've made so much progress and so much has been learned that if we hadn't taken this risk, we wouldn't have any of these learnings.' The launch of MethaneSAT in March 2024 was a milestone in a years-long campaign by EDF to hold accountable the more than 120 countries that in 2021 pledged to curb their methane emissions. It also sought to help enforce a further promise from 50 oil and gas companies made at the Dubai COP28 climate summit in December 2023 to eliminate methane and routine gas flaring. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over a 20 year period.
NDTV
12 hours ago
- Science
- NDTV
Jeff Bezos-Backed Satellite On Climate Change Mission Lost In Space
A satellite backed by billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has been lost in space while carrying out an important climate change mission, New Zealand officials said Wednesday. Designed to measure greenhouse gas emissions with "unprecedented resolution", the MethaneSAT space probe was also funded by Wellington and the US-based Environmental Defence 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 Defence 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. 'Remarkable' 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. 'Not recoverable' 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. "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 $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.
Sydney Morning Herald
15 hours ago
- Science
- Sydney Morning Herald
A $134 million satellite that keeps an eye on some of the world's biggest companies has disappeared
An $US88 million ($134 million) satellite backed by billionaire Jeff Bezos that detected oil and gas industry emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas methane has been lost in space, the group that operates it said on Tuesday. MethaneSAT had been collecting emissions data and images from drilling sites, pipelines, and processing facilities around the world since March, but went off course around 10 days ago, the Environmental Defence Fund, which led the initiative, said. Its last known location was over Svalbard in Norway and EDF said it did not expect it to be recovered as it had lost power. 'We're seeing this as a setback, not a failure,' Amy Middleton, senior vice president at EDF, told Reuters. Loading 'We've made so much progress and so much has been learned that if we hadn't taken this risk, we wouldn't have any of these learnings.' The launch of MethaneSAT in March 2024 was a milestone in a years-long campaign by EDF to hold accountable the more than 120 countries that in 2021 pledged to curb their methane emissions. It also sought to help enforce a further promise from 50 oil and gas companies made at the Dubai COP28 climate summit in December 2023 to eliminate methane and routine gas flaring. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over a 20 year period.
RNZ News
a day ago
- Science
- RNZ News
NZ-funded methane satellite goes missing
Artist's rendering of MethaneSAT, the satellite EDF developed. Photo: Supplied / Environmental Defence Fund A New Zealand taxpayer-funded climate satellite has lost contact with the ground. The US non-profit behind the MethaneSAT mission has released a statement saying the satellite "is likely not recoverable." MethaneSAT got $29 million from the New Zealand government, with the aim of growing the space industry. The mission's goal was to name and shame oil and gas producers that are allowing planet-heating methane to escape into the atmosphere. RNZ's Climate Change Correspondent Eloise Gibson has been following the story.
