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Programme Manager for the MethaneSAT project for BAE Systems, Space & Mission Systems – to discover more about the development of the satellite and the function of the photonics-based spectroscopy technology it contains, as well as about how MethaneSAT will aid environmental scientists in their work to monitor and research the sources and scale of global methane emissions.
What is MethaneSAT? And what is its purpose? MethaneSAT is an ambitious project led by the EDF to identify, track, and measure sources of methane from space. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a warming potential 80 times higher than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. The MethaneSAT mission will focus on measurements of methane emissions from oil and gas production and, also, from agricultural sites. The EDF’s objective of this mission is to reduce emissions from the oil and gas industry by 45%, which would have the same effect on climate change as closing 1,300 coal-fired power plants.
What photonics-based spectroscopy technology does MethaneSAT contain? The MethaneSAT instrument consists of two hyperspectral imaging spectrometers designed to measure narrow regions of the shortwave infrared spectrum. One sensor is designed to measure an oxygen absorption feature near 1.3um and the other measures a methane absorption feature near 1.6um. How this system works in practice is
“The MethaneSAT mission has demonstrated that making impactful measurements is no longer the sole domain of traditional state actors”
that each sensor measures the distinct signature of how either methane or oxygen changes the colour of incoming light from the Sun after reflecting off the Earth. Through an understanding of how much that signature has changed as it passes through the atmosphere, scientists can calculate the total amount of methane in the measured images to an accuracy of less than three parts per billion. The sensors are designed to balance performance with size and cost, and each consist of a refractive objective telescope paired with a refractive Littrow spectrometer. These sensors receive a signal from ground reflection of incoming solar illumination near methane targets of interest. As the sole instrument aboard the MethaneSAT satellite, these sensors provide all the data that is needed to understand the location, source, and concentration of methane that’s required by the mission.
How will MethaneSAT aid in environmental monitoring and research? MethaneSAT fits within an existing ecosystem of methane measuring systems already flying. However, it fills a key measurement gap between sensors that detect large,
region-scale methane levels and very small, facility-level measurements. MethaneSAT fits within these systems by simultaneously imaging a large 200km-wide area with very fine resolution, less than 200m, at science-grade levels of precision. This ‘sweet- spot’ will allow facility-level attribution of methane sources, and it will provide policy and decision makers with actionable information they can rely on. The satellite also orbits the
Earth about every 95 minutes, which – in many cases – will allow us to take measurements of the same area daily to track changes in emissions over time. In addition, the EDF has a strategy of radical transparency. By making the data and processing algorithms freely available to the public, policy- and decision-makers can build confidence in the results of the MethaneSAT mission.
What are the key challenges in developing and using photonics technologies for applications such as this? BAE Systems Inc., Space & Mission Systems – previously Ball Aerospace – has a long history of developing these types of sensors for the rigours of the space environment. Our design engineers spend their careers building the experience and knowledge necessary to design a set of systems that can not only survive, but perform to stringent requirements in these harsh conditions. A keen understanding of
the interconnectedness of mechanical design features, thermal design, and optical
performance allows us to create accurate models of system performance in the early stages of design so that we can assess challenge areas and design accommodations to ensure our instruments perform. This knowledge is built upon many successful programmes we’ve worked on for a variety of customers, including instruments on major observatories such as the Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb Space Telescope, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. In addition, we place a lot of value in the results of our rigorous testing campaign. Our instruments don’t fly until they have demonstrated proven performance in ground testing.
What innovations and trends do you expect in the use of photonics-based spectroscopy for space-based environmental monitoring and research in the coming years? And what other applications and markets might the technology be useful for? The MethaneSAT mission has demonstrated that making impactful measurements is no longer the sole domain of traditional state actors. Determined customers, including non-profit organisations, can field these types of science-grade instruments to solve many of today’s toughest challenges. This is driven by lower costs and more standardised access to space being offered by a range of launch providers, satellite bus providers, ground networks, and quality instrument providers. I believe that BAE Systems has demonstrated through the execution of the MethaneSAT mission that science-grade measurements are within reach for entities that wouldn’t have been able to access them even a few years ago. Space-based environmental monitoring instruments already exist to track everything from wildfires, deforestation trends and ocean health, among countless other applications. But with advancing
The MethaneSAT satellite, which carries two hyperspectral imaging spectrometers, each consisting of a refractive objective telescope paired with a refractive Littrow spectrometer
18 Electro Optics May 2024
spectrometer technologies and lower barriers to launch, I am confident that the industry could see considerable growth in these kinds of missions in the near-future. EO
www.electrooptics.com
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