China on Monday launched a methane monitoring commercial satellite, the first one of its kind developed by the country, to track methane emissions worldwide.
Aboard by a Lijian-1 Y5 commercial carrier rocket together with 14 other satellites, the Xiguang-004 satellite was launched at 12:03 (Beijing Time) and has entered the planned orbit.
Carrying multiple payloads, including a methane concentration detector and an imaging camera, the satellite is capable of identifying sources of methane emissions in coal mines, landfills, and oil and gas fields.
"We focus on the specific point-source of methane emissions, such as a specific mining area, an industrial zone, or a section of the pipelines. The application scenario serves as a supplement to China's carbon monitoring satellites providing detailed perspectives on emissions," said Qin Xiaobao, deputy head of the data application department of the satellite's developer Xiopm Space.
Scientists say that in the process of global warming, the intensity of warming caused by methane is much higher than that of carbon dioxide. In a 20-year time scale, the intensity of warming caused by methane is 84 times that of carbon dioxide.
Xiguang-004 is also the world's first monitoring satellite specifically designed to focus on methane gas.
It can conduct high-frequency, high-precision observations of point-source methane leaks and emissions globally, providing technical support for the establishment of a comprehensive methane emission monitoring system.
"Our satellite is specifically designed to focus on methane gas emissions, setting the goals and direction for global methane monitoring. This initiative aligns with the needs of our nation [of achieving zero-carbon emissions] and addresses critical objectives related to global environmental change," said Li Zhizhong, academician from the International Academy of Astronautics.
China launches methane monitoring commercial satellite
