By Rachel Jewett with Via Satellite| January 7, 2020
MethaneSAT has selected Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT) to develop and build the spacecraft bus for its first mission, which is scheduled to launch in 2022. The donor-funded mission aims to provide global, high-resolution detection and quantification of methane emissions from oil and gas facilities, as well as measure emissions from other human-generated methane sources.
The satellite will be designed using BCT’s newest X-SAT line of spacecraft, specifically the X-SAT Saturn-Class, which it says can carry payloads up to 200 kg. The X-SAT Saturn-Class’s compact profile is intended to maximize the volume, mass and power available for the methane measuring instrument. BCT says it is currently building more than 60 spacecraft for government, commercial and academic missions.
“Reducing methane emissions is critical to slowing the pace of climate change, and we’re proud that our small-satellite technology will help MethaneSAT and the Environmental Defense Fund with this important mission,” George Stafford, President and CEO of Blue Canyon Technologies said. “Our technology will make it less expensive and quicker to launch, allowing them to collect more data sooner.”