Bezos-backed methanetracking satellite 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 yesterday.
Designed to measure greenhouse gas emissions with 'unprecedented resolution', the MethaneSAT space probe was also funded by Wellington and the USbased 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.'
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