Tanager-1 Satellite

About Tanager-1 Satellite:

• Launch details:
  • Launch vehicle: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
  • Launch site: Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
  • Development collaboration: Jointly developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and other partners.
• Mission purpose:
  • Primary Objective: Detection of major carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) emissions.
  • Environmental Focus: Targeting key greenhouse gases that significantly contribute to global warming.

Technological features:

• Spectrometer technology: Utilizes advanced imaging spectrometers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
• Emission tracking:
  • Method: Measures light wavelengths reflected from the Earth's surface to identify specific atmospheric compounds.
  • Spectral fingerprints: Identifies and quantifies greenhouse gases like CO₂ and CH₄ by their unique infrared signatures.
• Coverage capacity: Capable of monitoring emissions across 130,000 square kilometres daily.
• Data access: Plume data will be publicly available to support global emission reduction efforts.

Significance of Methane Monitoring:

• Global warming impact:
  • Potency: Methane is approximately 80 times more effective than CO₂ at warming the atmosphere over 20 years.
  • Contribution: Accounts for 30% of global warming since the Industrial Revolution.
• Health implications: Linked to the formation of ground-level ozone, contributing to up to one million premature deaths annually.