Tanager (satellite)
Greenhouse gas monitoring satellites
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Tanager are a series of Earth observation satellites designed to detect and measure emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly methane and carbon dioxide. Tanager-1 is the first satellite deployed for the Carbon Mapper initiative and was launched on 16 August 2024.[1][2][3] Tanager-2, also developed as part of the Carbon Mapper satellite constellation, is a satellite planned for the detection and quantification of greenhouse gas emissions.[4][5]
Background
Tanager-1 was developed to improve the detection and monitoring of high-intensity greenhouse gas emission sources, including methane emissions from industrial infrastructure.[1] The mission forms part of broader efforts to expand satellite-based atmospheric monitoring and provide data for scientific and policy applications.[2][6] Tanager-2 is a continuation of this project.
Development and launch
Tanager-1 was developed through the Carbon Mapper partnership, which includes NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Planet Labs.[7][3] Tanager-1 was built by Planet Labs as part of a public-private collaboration involving several scientific and nonprofit organisations[2][8] and launched on 16 August 2024 aboard SpaceX's Transporter rideshare mission, a Falcon 9 rocket, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.[2][3]
Tanager-2 is also being developed by the Carbon Mapper partnership, and built by Planet Labs.[9]
Mission and instrumentation
Tanager-1 carries a hyperspectral imaging spectrometer that measures reflected light across multiple wavelengths, allowing detection of atmospheric gases based on their spectral signatures.[2][10] The satellite is designed to detect, locate, and quantify methane and carbon dioxide emissions from specific sources such as landfills and energy infrastructure.[11][6]
Tanager-2 will also carry a hyperspectral imaging spectrometer developed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.[9]
Operations
After commissioning, Tanager-1 entered operational monitoring to support facility-scale greenhouse gas detection, monitoring and tracking.[7][8] Early observations identified greenhouse gas plumes in several regions following commissioning of the instrument.[11][6]
Tanager-2 is planned to operate in low Earth orbit, at an orbital altitude of approximately 405 km.[12]