NASA’s Powerful Tanager-1 Satellite Set to Revolutionize Global Greenhouse Gas Tracking

In a significant step towards combating climate change, Tanager-1, the Carbon Mapper Coalition’s first satellite equipped with a NASA-designed greenhouse-gas-tracking instrument, successfully entered Earth’s orbit on Friday, August 16, 2024.

The satellite launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 11:56 a.m. PDT.

Ground controllers confirmed communication with the satellite at 2:45 p.m. PDT.

State-of-the-Art NASA Technology in Action

The satellite features cutting-edge imaging spectrometer technology developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California.

This advanced instrument is designed to measure methane and carbon dioxide emissions from individual facilities and equipment worldwide.

Tanager-1’s ability to pinpoint greenhouse gas emissions at such a detailed level represents a significant advancement in environmental monitoring technology.

“The imaging spectrometer technology aboard Tanager-1 is the product of four decades of development at NASA JPL and truly in a class of its own,” said JPL Director Laurie Leshin.

“The data that this public-private partnership provides on sources of greenhouse gas emissions will be precise and global, making it beneficial to everyone.”

A Collaboration for Climate Action – NASA and Planet Labs

Tanager-1 is part of a broader initiative led by the nonprofit Carbon Mapper, in collaboration with partners including Planet Labs PBC and NASA’s JPL.

The project is funded by a public-private coalition, with significant support from philanthropies such as the High Tide Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The coalition’s mission is to make critical methane and carbon dioxide data accessible and actionable, empowering global decision-makers to take effective measures against climate change.

“The Carbon Mapper Coalition is a prime example of how organizations from different sectors are uniting around a common goal of addressing climate change,” said Riley Duren, CEO of Carbon Mapper.

“By detecting, pinpointing, and quantifying super-emitters and making this data accessible to decision-makers, we can drive significant action around the world to cut emissions now.”

Monitoring Greenhouse Gases at an Unprecedented Scale

Once operational, Tanager-1 will scan approximately 50,000 square miles (130,000 square kilometers) of Earth’s surface daily.

The data collected will be analyzed to identify gas plumes with the spectral signatures of methane and carbon dioxide, allowing scientists to accurately locate and quantify emission sources.

This information will be publicly available through the Carbon Mapper data portal, facilitating transparency and global cooperation in emission reduction efforts.

Methane and carbon dioxide are the most significant contributors to climate change. Methane, with approximately half of its emissions resulting from human activities such as fossil fuel extraction, agriculture, and waste management, is particularly potent.

Similarly, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 50% since 1750, largely due to the burning of fossil fuels.

The imaging spectrometer aboard Tanager-1 captures hundreds of wavelengths of light reflected by Earth’s surface, identifying the unique spectral “fingerprints” left by methane and carbon dioxide.

This capability is expected to accelerate efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by providing precise and timely data to scientists and policymakers.

Looking Ahead: Expanding the Carbon Mapper Constellation

Tanager-1 is just the beginning of a larger effort to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Carbon Mapper Coalition plans to launch a second Tanager satellite equipped with a JPL-built imaging spectrometer, further enhancing the capability to track emissions on a global scale.

This initiative is complemented by NASA’s EMIT (Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation), an imaging spectrometer installed on the International Space Station, which also contributes to the broader effort to provide actionable environmental data.

By leveraging NASA’s advanced technology and a strong public-private partnership, Tanager-1 and its successors aim to play a critical role in the global effort to combat climate change, providing the precise data needed to drive meaningful action.

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