GHGSat Announced Second-Generation Methane Satellite
The upgraded design doubles detection sensitivity to 50 kilograms per hour ahead of a planned 2028 launch.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Environmental
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GHGSat has announced a second-generation satellite design for monitoring methane emissions from space. This upcoming model doubles the precision of the company's current fleet, which detects leaks at a 100-kilogram-per-hour threshold.
Why it matters
Enhanced orbital sensitivity accelerates the identification and mitigation of greenhouse gas leaks across industrial facilities. This development follows a decade of operational methane monitoring and the 2025 observation of over four million sites.
The second-generation satellite design identifies methane leaks as small as 50 kilograms per hour, a two-fold improvement over the existing 100-kilogram-per-hour limit. Each satellite is engineered to monitor 20,000 square kilometres of ground surface area daily.
The players
GHGSat
A provider of greenhouse gas monitoring services that utilizes a proprietary fleet of satellites and aircraft sensors to track industrial emissions.
The details
The technology relies on a tip-and-cue detection process, which uses satellite imagery to identify potential emission plumes before deploying aircraft-mounted sensors to pinpoint the source. By narrowing the detection threshold, the system provides higher-resolution monitoring for industrial operators. The company previously tested sensor hardware at Colorado State University and integrates components from partners in Toronto and Quebec City.
Timeline
September 2025: GHGSat raised $47 million in equity and debt.
2025: The satellite fleet observed more than four million facilities.
July 2026: The C-16 and C-17 satellites returned their first images.
2026: Satellites C-18 and C-19 are scheduled for launch.
Early 2028: The second-generation satellite is expected to launch.
The Tech Race
The new satellite architecture represents the next phase in the company's decade-long push to improve orbital detection sensitivity. It maintains the company's competitive trajectory as it scales from the 2026 deployment of C-18 and C-19 units toward its next-generation design milestone.
Industrial operators will gain access to higher-fidelity emission data, allowing for more precise detection of leaks that previously fell below satellite limits. The platform currently supports monitoring at scale, with future capacity expansions contingent on the successful 2028 launch of the upgraded hardware.
The takeaway
Advancements in satellite sensitivity significantly lower the barrier for identifying industrial methane leaks globally. Stakeholders should monitor the 2028 launch schedule to see if the 50-kilogram-per-hour detection capability matches the projected ground coverage.
What happens next
The launch of the C-18 and C-19 satellites is scheduled for 2026, followed by the deployment of the second-generation satellite in early 2028.
Further reading
For broader context on emissions tracking, see the latest developments in Environmental research.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SpaceQ.
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