The project aims to develop an optical instrument for detecting methane plumes, designed for the K3M demonstration microsatellite. The next phase will involve building a constellation of at least a dozen satellites, establishing a global infrastructure for monitoring methane point sources in near real-time, with local-level spatial resolution.
The optical instrument is designed to detect methane plumes across the visible (VIS), near-infrared (NIR), and short-wave infrared (SWIR) bands. The instrument’s spectral resolution is expected to be as fine as less than 1 nanometer, with a minimum spatial resolution (GSD) of 30 meters at an altitude of 500 km, ensuring high precision in detecting and monitoring methane emissions.
The development process is currently underway.
