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Seasoned Team Leader Hails from Google Cloud, Skybox Imaging Contacts: Jon Coifman, (212) 616-1325, jcoifman@edf.org (SAN FRANCISCO – Feb. 12, 2020) Software engineer Tom Melendez has joined MethaneSAT, where he will head the team developing a sophisticated data...

The government of New Zealand today announced that it will contribute $16 million to MethaneSAT, a unique non-profit satellite mission created to help speed reduction of potent greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to providing overall project support, New Zealand plans to host the ground-based mission control center and develop an expanded scientific research effort using data from the satellite.

MethaneSAT LLC has signed an agreement with Ball Aerospace to design and build the advanced new sensing instrument at the heart of a unique mission to protect the Earth’s climate. The contract, which follows a 10-month competitive process, marks a key milestone in the development of MethaneSAT, a 350kg-class satellite, which will locate and measure methane emissions almost anywhere on Earth.

Over the next several months, the MethaneSAT team will work with Ball Aerospace and SSL, a Maxar Technologies company, to refine designs and program plans to meet performance, cost and scheduling requirements.

Two of the space industry’s most seasoned experts have signed on to help MethaneSAT LLC usher its unique mission through its crucial next stages. They will be joined by one of Silicon Valley’s most successful innovator/entrepreneurs.