A satellite funded by billionaire JeffBezos to track methane emissions has been lost in space, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) confirmed Tuesday.
The $88 million satellite, known as MethaneSAT, went off course about 10 days ago. Its last known location was over Svalbard, Norway. According to EDF, the satellite lost power and is not expected to be recovered.
Launched in March 2024, MethaneSAT was part of a major climate project. It aimed to monitor methane emissions from oil and gas sites worldwide. The satellite collected high-resolution data from drilling areas, pipelines, and processing plants.
EDF received a $100 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund in 2020 to support the project. Additional funding came from Arnold Ventures, the Robertson Foundation, and the TED Audacious Project. The New Zealand Space Agency also partnered in the mission.
“We see this as a setback, not a failure,” said Amy Middleton, senior vice president at EDF. She added that the project helped advance methane-tracking technology and provided valuable insights.
JeffBezos, through his Earth Fund, had backed MethaneSAT as part of broader climate change efforts. The satellite was also working with Google to develop a public map of global methane emissions.
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, with over 80 times the warming effect of carbon dioxide over 20 years. Cutting methane leaks is one of the quickest ways to slow climate change, experts say.
While MethaneSAT wasn’t the only methane-monitoring satellite, it offered better detail on specific emission sources. EDF is now investigating what went wrong and has informed agencies like NOAA, the FCC, and the U.S. Space Force.
Insurance will cover the loss. EDF will continue tracking emissions using other tools, including methane sensors on aircraft. It is unclear if a replacement satellite will be launched, but EDF says the mission proved the technology’s value.
Despite the loss, JeffBezos’ investment helped push climate transparency forward at a critical time.The satellite loss comes as JeffBezos prepares to attend Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration alongside Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. Read more here.
