Bezos-backed MethaneSAT Satellite Lost
Analysis based on 6 articles · First reported Jul 01, 2025 · Last updated Jul 03, 2025
The loss of MethaneSAT, an $88 million satellite backed by Jeff Bezos, is a setback for the Environmental Defense Fund's efforts to monitor methane emissions, potentially impacting the transparency and accountability of the oil and gas industry regarding greenhouse gas leaks. This event could lead to increased interest in alternative methane detection technologies and companies like GHGSat, as well as potentially influencing future funding for similar environmental initiatives.
The MethaneSAT satellite, an $88 million project backed by Jeff Bezos through the Jeff Bezos and operated by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), has been lost in space. The satellite, launched in March 2024, was designed to detect methane emissions from the oil and gas industry globally. It went off course approximately 10 days ago, losing power, and is not expected to be recovered. The EDF, which received a $100 million grant from the Jeff Bezos in 2020 and other support from Arnold Ventures, the Robertson Foundation, and the TED (conference), reported the loss to federal agencies including the United States — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Nigeria — Nigerian Communications Commission, and the United States. While EDF views this as a setback, not a failure, and has insurance to cover the loss, the incident hinders efforts to increase transparency on methane emissions and hold countries and companies accountable for their pledges to curb greenhouse gases. The project had partnered with Alphabet Inc. to create a publicly available global map of emissions.
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