Launching Ultra-Small Satellite to Measure Methane Gas, the Main Cause of the Greenhouse Effect

Astronomy Institute-Seoul National University-Nara Space

South Korea is launching a microsatellite to measure atmospheric methane concentrations, one of the main culprits of the greenhouse effect.

A microsatellite startup, Nara Space, is developing a microsatellite methane concentration measurement satellite in collaboration with the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute and Seoul National University. Photo by Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute

The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute announced on the 18th that it has embarked on a microsatellite project to monitor atmospheric methane concentrations in real time, in collaboration with the domestic microsatellite startup Nara Space Technology and Seoul National University’s Climate Research Lab.

Nara Space Technology is responsible for developing the satellite body, the Astronomy Institute is developing the onboard camera, and Professor Jung Soo-jong’s team at Seoul National University is developing the technology to measure methane concentrations using the collected video and images.

They have also agreed to collaborate during the research process with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the nonprofit environmental organization Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

Methane is one of the six major greenhouse gases causing climate change and is considered the "worst greenhouse gas" because its warming effect is about 80 times greater than that of carbon dioxide. Since industrialization in 1850, about 0.5 degrees Celsius of the 1.1-degree global temperature rise has been attributed to increased atmospheric methane concentrations, accounting for roughly 40%. However, because methane remains in the atmosphere for a relatively short time, reducing emissions can lead to rapid improvements in warming.

Professor Jung said, "Methane can be an innovative way to support carbon neutrality simply by accurately identifying emission sources. Especially since methane is emitted in large quantities during the supply, distribution, and use of gases like liquefied natural gas (LNG), methane monitoring can play an important role in companies’ carbon neutrality strategies."

Current atmospheric greenhouse gas monitoring mainly focuses on background atmosphere observation through ground stations, limiting the ability to observe urban and industrial areas nationwide or collect data from other countries.

Choi Young-jun, a senior researcher at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, said, "This project applies the infrared payload development technology for small satellites that the institute has accumulated over a long time. Methane monitoring technology will not only respond to the climate crisis but also greatly contribute to Korea’s independent space telescopes in the future, as NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope assesses signs of life on exoplanets by observing methane."

Nara Space Technology plans to use the methane monitoring satellite to identify emission hotspots with high methane emissions and to periodically observe methane emission trends in specific areas. If real methane measurement data from various regions are secured through this project, it is expected to greatly assist the government and private companies in establishing greenhouse gas reduction strategies and achieving climate change response and carbon neutrality.

Park Jae-pil, CEO of Nara Space Technology, said, "If methane monitoring satellites are mass-produced and operated in clusters, they can collect real-time information on methane sources worldwide. In a situation where the international community is strengthening greenhouse gas reduction efforts, such as the European Union (EU) introducing the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), real-time methane monitoring using microsatellites will reduce trade losses caused by environmental information asymmetry and contribute to objective carbon footprint measurement, reporting, verification (MRV), and carbon credit management."

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