The recent failure of MethaneSAT, the widely publicized methane-monitoring satellite developed by the Environmental Defense Fund, attracted global attention. The satellite lost communication with ground control in June 2025, just 15 months after its launch, and was officially declared irrecoverable in July. This event disappointed climate scientists, environmentalists, and policymakers worldwide, especially given the high expectations and substantial investment involved.

MethaneSAT was particularly notable because it represented a new kind of climate accountability. Its data was open and publicly accessible, highlighting methane leaks from sources such as oil and gas fields, landfills, and agricultural operations. The sudden silence from this high-profile spacecraft has prompted widespread discussions about the future of global methane detection.

While MethaneSAT’s loss is significant, it is not a critical setback for methane transparency. MethaneSAT stood out because it combined precise measurement technology, global reach, and open data access in a way few other satellites had done before. However, it was always part of a broader global ecosystem of methane-detection tools and technologies. Its disappearance from the stage will not mean methane emitters can once again conceal their emissions. Today, numerous satellites, both specialized and general-purpose, are actively tracking methane emissions. These satellites, combined with powerful computing and artificial intelligence technologies, ensure that methane leaks around the world will continue to be detected, measured, and reported.

Understanding why methane matters is crucial. Methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas. It traps heat in the atmosphere much more efficiently than carbon dioxide, about 80 times more over a 20-year span. The impact of methane on climate change has grown steadily, putting ambitious climate goals at risk. This fact makes rapid and accurate detection of methane emissions particularly important. MethaneSAT’s sensors had shown promise in capturing precise data on methane plumes globally, highlighting under-reported emissions at critical locations such as the Permian Basin oil fields. These findings emphasized how urgently countries and industries must address their methane emissions.

Despite its brief operational life, MethaneSAT achieved considerable results. The satellite demonstrated the effectiveness of hyperspectral imaging, a sophisticated method that captures reflected sunlight to identify chemical signatures specific to methane. Unlike traditional sensors, this approach allowed MethaneSAT to pinpoint even small leaks quickly. The project’s transparency made its data readily available, enabling researchers and governments to take swift action against identified methane sources. These early successes underscored the potential for similar missions, even though MethaneSAT itself will no longer contribute directly to global monitoring efforts.

Fortunately, MethaneSAT was never the only player in the methane-monitoring field. Several satellites and monitoring systems are already in orbit or launching soon. The GHGSat constellation, a set of privately funded small satellites, is currently observing methane emissions from individual facilities. GHGSat has been successfully detecting methane leaks from industrial sites for years, providing crucial data to commercial clients and government agencies. Another initiative, Carbon Mapper, uses a pair of satellites to target larger sources, referred to as super-emitters. This non-profit initiative aims to create detailed maps of methane emissions around the globe and regularly updates the public on major leak sites.

Then there’s Orbital Sidekick, the hyperspectral commercial methane detection satellite initially built in CEO and founder Dan Katz’ garage, with electronics baked in a second-hand cannabis drying oven. I spoke with him about his journey and what his satellites can do a couple of years ago.

In addition to dedicated satellites like GHGSat and Carbon Mapper, other programs are integrating methane detection into broader atmospheric monitoring missions. The European Space Agency’s Sentinel-5P satellite, carrying the Tropomi instrument, regularly maps global methane concentrations at lower spatial resolutions. Although not able to spot individual leaks with MethaneSAT’s precision, Sentinel-5P covers large areas and provides daily updates on methane hotspots.

Sentinel-4, a recently launched geostationary sensor, monitors air quality gases including methane over Europe and parts of Africa. Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 satellites, originally intended for general environmental observations, now work in tandem with artificial intelligence software to identify methane leaks indirectly, demonstrating creative repurposing of existing satellite data.

Japan’s GOSAT and GOSAT-2 satellites are long-running methane observation missions, providing vital global methane measurements since 2009. These satellites use sophisticated spectrometers to record methane and carbon dioxide levels worldwide. Other upcoming satellite missions, including Germany’s EnMAP and NASA’s Surface Biology and Geology mission, will also include methane detection among their capabilities. Combined, these satellites form a robust, multi-layered methane observation network that ensures continuous global monitoring despite the loss of MethaneSAT.

Alongside dedicated and multipurpose satellites, artificial intelligence and big data analytics play a growing role in methane detection. Companies like Kayrros employ AI to analyze data from publicly accessible satellites such as Sentinel, creating detailed maps that pinpoint methane leaks in near real-time. Another project, Momentick, also analyzes free satellite data with artificial intelligence, offering cost-effective and rapid methane monitoring solutions.

NOAA’s GOES weather satellites, originally designed for meteorological purposes, are now being leveraged experimentally to detect large methane emissions, adding another layer to global detection efforts. However, with the deep cuts to NOAA’s budget, with all climate science specific targets, it’s likely that the GOES satellite methane use cases are going to be cut. However, the United States’ oil and gas producers can’t hide. Satellites don’t stop at national borders, but fly overhead, and U.S. emissions will be counted.

Political and economic realities influence how methane detection evolves from here. Current U.S. politics, characterized by reduced federal funding, low prioritization of climate science initiatives and billionaires like Bezos backing away from overt climate action spending, make another satellite like MethaneSAT unlikely in the short term. This political climate contrasts with strong private and philanthropic backing seen in programs like Carbon Mapper and GHGSat. MethaneSAT itself was funded largely by private donors, such as the Bezos Earth Fund, and by international governments including New Zealand, rather than direct U.S. federal funds. Such funding patterns underscore that private and international efforts can sustain global methane monitoring even in the face of political opposition or funding cuts in major nations.

Ultimately, MethaneSAT’s failure highlights the importance of resilience in global climate monitoring. Despite losing this high-profile satellite, the world’s methane emissions remain under careful scrutiny. The array of specialized and repurposed satellites, powerful artificial intelligence analysis, and international collaboration ensures methane emitters cannot return to anonymity. MethaneSAT’s short life demonstrated the viability of public-facing, high-precision methane detection, but its legacy will extend through future satellite initiatives, AI-driven analytics, and ongoing global commitment to transparency.

In the coming years, we can expect methane monitoring capabilities to grow stronger, driven by the convergence of advanced satellite technology, public transparency, and international cooperation. MethaneSAT’s sudden loss is undoubtedly a setback, but the global methane detection infrastructure it helped popularize is already mature enough to continue its vital work. The transparency and accountability this infrastructure provides will ensure methane emitters remain visible, and actionable emissions data continues to drive climate action worldwide.