Bezos-backed methane satellite lost in space after climate mission
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.
- '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.
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'.
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
The Star
15 hours ago
- The Star
Yakin Ambassadors campaign to raise awareness on stem cell therapy
WHEN TV news anchor Gan Jiang Han first heard about stem cell therapy, it sounded like science fiction. But today, he and three other beloved Malaysian news anchors—Lim She Ting, Tan Ley Teng and Marsila Hassan—are lending their voices to a nationwide campaign that could change how everyday Malaysians think about health, healing and the future of medicine. They are part of Yakin Ambassadors, a new initiative launched by Yakin Splendour Global Holdings Bhd, the strategic brand arm of Yakin Medic Sdn Bhd. The campaign's mission is to make cutting-edge treatments more relatable and to show that real people from all walks of life can benefit from them. The campaign, with the tagline 'Yakin Stem Cell Technology, Now Within Your Reach', champions a future where breakthrough treatments are accessible, relatable and trusted—bringing hope closer to home for all Malaysians. Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal witnessed the signing ceremony for the Yakin Ambassadors. Mohammad Yusof stated that the campaign plays a key role in making stem cell therapy more accessible, relatable and relevant to the healthcare needs of Malaysians today. 'This initiative not only offers renewed hope to patients battling chronic and degenerative illnesses but also elevates Malaysia's standing in the field of medical tourism,' he said. 'I am proud to see local companies like Yakin Splendour actively transforming the nation's healthcare landscape, in line with the aspirations of the 12th Malaysia Plan and the national science, technology and innovation agenda.' Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal witnessed the signing ceremony for the Yakin Ambassadors. Yakin Group of Companies founder and chief executive officer Patrick Tan said the vision behind Yakin Ambassadors is to bridge the gap between science and society. 'This initiative is not just about public engagement—it's about sparking meaningful conversations, reducing misconceptions and inspiring individuals to take control of their health through innovative and proven medical solutions,' said Tan. 'At its heart, this is about trust, hope and second chances. We're bringing together public figures who are respected and familiar to Malaysians to help bridge the gap between science and society.' Founded in 2014, Yakin Medic has steadily built its reputation in cellular therapy. The company is also a player in Malaysia's burgeoning medical tourism sector, attracting regional interest for its innovation and clinical expertise. In September last year, Yakin Medic entered into a technical and strategic cooperation agreement with China-based IASO Biotherapeutics to explore the market potential of CAR-T cell technology. Under the partnership, Reindeer contributes its technological expertise, while Yakin Medic leads the development initiatives. The initiative is part of a broader effort to position Malaysia as a key player in the global biotechnology arena. For Tan, his entry into the field was sparked by a fascination with how the human body repairs itself—a fascination that took a dramatic turn when he sustained third-degree burns in an accident. Remarkably, the very therapies he had helped to research and develop would later aid in his recovery. 'I believed in the science, but I never imagined I'd become a patient myself. That experience changed everything. It became personal. Through further research, we found that stem cells could offer powerful solutions to widespread health issues. It's one thing to believe in the science. It's another to be saved by it,' said Tan. 'Still, this is a field that can't be rushed. Safety, science and standards must always come first. Real science takes patience. Clinical trials, global standards, consistent quality and all of that matter because lives are at stake.' Yakin Medic's work grew from a small clinical data collection unit into a full-fledged biotechnology research company. SceneFis Aesthetic—a prominent beauty centre and distributor partner of Yakin Splendour Sdn Bhd and a subsidiary company of Yakin Splendour Global Holding Bhd—has committed over RM400,000 in a strategic alliance with the company. Yakin also welcomes more beauty and aesthetic industry players to explore potential collaborations and work together in creating a new era of health and beauty. 'We are proud to collaborate with Yakin Group, a player in Malaysia's stem cell industry,' said SceneFis Aesthetic managing director Vesley Lee Siew Khim. Now, with Yakin Ambassadors, Yakin Splendour is taking the next step. Over the coming months, the celebrity ambassadors will share their stories, engage with local communities, participate in outreach programmes and help simplify the science behind stem cell therapy. The initiative aims to inspire curiosity and provide credible, accessible information about a treatment field that is still widely misunderstood. 'This is not just a campaign. It's a movement that uplifts, educates and connects,' said Yakin Splendour Global Holdings Bhd director Datuk Steven Lai. 'It's about showing Malaysians that this isn't some distant or elitist science—it's something real and it's here." As the campaign kicks off, the message from Yakin Ambassadors is simple—the future of healthcare lies in innovation, but it also requires compassion, transparency and trust. With real stories, familiar faces and science-backed solutions, Yakin Ambassadors marks a new chapter in public health advocacy.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Soweto geologist uncovering the Earth's secrets
IN the 1997 action film "Dante's Peak", Pierce Brosnan plays the role of a volcanologist sent to investigate seismic activity beneath a long-dormant volcano. Years after its release, the story inspired South African Tebogo Makhubela to become a geologist, the 35-year-old told AFP. Winner of one of the prestigious National Geographic 2025 Wayfinder awards, Makhubela leads a research team working to uncover ancient clues to human evolution. His turf lies below the surface of the Earth in the limestone caves of South Africa's Cradle of Humankind, a Unesco World Heritage site about 50 kilometres (30 miles) northwest of Johannesburg. Speaking from inside The Rising Star cave, one of the numerous caves in the area, Makhubela said he and his colleagues have only "scratched the surface" of the site, which dates back five million years. In an unassuming savannah field, hidden under a rocky patch of grass, the cave is where scientists in 2013 discovered Homo naledi, an ancient human relative that lived about 300,000 years ago. "With this cave we've only studied 30 per cent... To do the remaining 70 per cent we need 20 years minimum," said Makhubela, wearing a dark green overall and a helmet fixed with a torchlight. And with many other caves to study, Makhubela's research isn't close to an end. "I will actually retire before we finish. Hence, I need to train a lot of students to take over from me." Makhubela, who lectures at the University of Johannesburg and supervises four PhD students, hopes more young scientists will join him on his mission – one he believes is crucial to understanding the history of humankind and its environment. "Geology helps us understand Earth, our planet, how it works, how it was formed, its composition and its processes," he said, sitting on a rock next to his yellow backpack filled with notebooks, pens, measuring instruments and water. His own speciality is geochemistry and geochronology, or more simply, determining the age of fossils and environmental changes over time. One hurdle, he said, is that geology is not well known and some young people would rather "chase what is popular." "Right now we're living in the age of artificial intelligence. (But) you don't have to run and go study computer science or IT because you want to be relevant to the times," said the geologist. "If you're more passionate about natural science, go for it. Because if you do it well, there will be a place for you." Born and raised in Soweto, the sprawling township once home to Nelson Mandela, Makhubela was the first in his family to go to university. His mother never went to school and worked as a street vendor while his father moved away when he was 10, he said. As a bright young student, he was pressured to study engineering and work in South Africa's lucrative gold mining industry. But he decided on another path. "Curiosity inspires me, honestly. I have a lot of questions," he joked, describing what motivates him. And a decade after making that bold decision to forgo a future in mining and pursue his passion in geology, Makhubela is proud of his accomplishments. "I've got a very thriving, fulfilling career, one which is winning me international awards," he said. He's even become a superhero, featuring as a character in a South African comic book and animation series to inspire children about the wonders of science.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Bezos-backed methane-tracking satellite lost in space
MethaneSAT was designed to measure emissions of the potent greenhouse gas. (Business Wire/AP pic) WELLINGTON : 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 today. 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 '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 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.
