New Satellite Hitches A Ride On SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket To Spot CO2 Polluters From Space

A new satellite launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is the world's first commercial CO2 sensor in orbit, according to GHGSat, the company operating the satellite. 

The satellite, known as GHGSat C10 or Vanguard, launched on Nov. 10 from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California to track carbon emissions from a range of facilities.

Accompanying Vanguard on its journey were two recently deployed methane sensors: GHGSat C-9 (Juba) and C-11 (Elliot). The three satellites were launched together as part of the Transporter-9 mission aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9, facilitated by Exolaunch.

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The Falcon 9, designed and manufactured by Elon Musk's SpaceX, is a two-stage, partially reusable rocket that revolutionized spaceflight by making it possible to launch satellites and astronauts more cheaply and efficiently.

GHGSat Inc., a global emissions-monitoring company based in Montreal, operates the satellite and has years of experience using other satellites to track emissions. It uses its patented imaging interferometer to measure and pinpoint emissions from individual sites around the world. GHGSat’s data is used by businesses, governments, regulators and investors to optimize their operations, reduce emissions and uphold environmental standards. 

The Vanguard satellite captures high-resolution images of industrial facilities, such as power plants and refineries, that give GHGSat the data it needs to accurately track and attribute emissions from these facilities.

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GHGSat uses a satellite called Claire to pinpoint the sources of carbon and methane emissions. The Claire satellite’s collected data revealed methane emissions were higher than previously estimated, and the new Vanguard satellite could provide similar findings for carbon dioxide emissions. The company previously detected methane emissions from a variety of sources, including cow burps, 

"Our high-resolution satellites helped put methane — a greenhouse gas that was out of sight and out of mind — at the top of the climate agenda," GHGSat CEO Stephane Germain said. "Now our goal is to harness this experience and change the conversation around CO2. With regulators, investors and the public increasingly holding companies to account, for both their direct and indirect emissions, there is little doubt that better CO2 data is needed."

GHGSat partners with NASA, the European Space Agency and the United Nations to provide those organizations with valuable satellite data. The company’s data is used by governments, businesses and environmental groups to track emissions, identify pollution sources and develop mitigation strategies.

ACME AtronOmatic is a startup that is also providing clients with valuable satellite data. The firm offers data that predicts weather and environmental threats with accuracy. 

The company’s satellites provide data on emissions from industrial facilities, oil and gas operations and agricultural activities. GHGSat’s data is used by governments, businesses and environmental groups to track emissions, identify pollution sources and develop mitigation strategies.

The Vanguard satellite is the most advanced satellite ever built for emissions monitoring. It uses a high-resolution spectrometer that can detect emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gasses. The Vanguard satellite can also capture high-resolution images of industrial facilities, which will allow GHGSat to more accurately track and attribute emissions to the proper entity with certainty.

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