Tanager-2 Launch Expands Global Methane Tracking Capabilities

Since the launch of the first Tanager satellite in 2024, Carbon Mapper has transformed satellite imagery into a practical tool for environmental intervention. By pinpointing methane plumes with facility-level precision, the organization has catalyzed 68 confirmed mitigations across the United States. These efforts, which include collaboration with state-led initiatives like the California Air Resources Board’s CalSMP program, have prevented an estimated 7.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from entering the atmosphere.

The addition of Tanager-2 increases the revisit frequency for monitoring sites, providing regulators and industry operators with a more reliable data stream. This expanded capacity supports international frameworks, including the UN’s Methane Alert and Response System, by uncovering super-emitters that represent up to 50% of regional emissions in specific sectors. With 15,200 plumes already documented from 5,400 unique sources, Carbon Mapper continues to push for transparency, feeding data into global systems to ensure that space-based observations translate into immediate ground-level repairs.