[1] It is an Earth observation satellite that will monitor and study global methane emissions in order to combat climate change.

Sara Mikaloff-Fletcher, a National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) carbon cycle expert, has been named as the mission's lead scientist.

Rocket Lab will build and operate the mission control center for the flight in Auckland, New Zealand.

Early reports using the MethaneSat equipment mounted on a jet aircraft (MethaneAir) showed that oil and gas producers in the U.S. are emitting methane into the atmosphere at over four times the rates estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency.

[10] The largest emitter is the Permian Basin in Texas which is emitting 256 tons of methane every day, accounting for 1.9% of total gas production.