$88m pollution-tracking satellite backed by Jeff Bezos missing in space

$88m pollution-tracking MethaneSat satellite, aimed at detecting methane emissions from oil and gas production, has gone missing in space just a year after launch, representing a significant setback for climate change mitigation efforts. The satellite, backed by Google and Jeff Bezos, was designed to collect vital data on methane, a potent greenhouse gas responsible for nearly one-third of human-induced warming. The loss of communication with MethaneSat has raised concerns about the reduction of global methane emissions, as current monitoring methods lack transparency on the worst offenders. The Environment Defense Fund, overseeing the satellite, is investigating the incident but suspects the satellite may not be recoverable.