• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • NEWS:
  • SatNews
  • SatMagazine
  • MilSatMagazine
  • SmallSat News
  • |     EVENTS:
  • SmallSat Symposium
  • Satellite Innovation
  • MilSat Symposium

SatNews

  • HOME
  • Magazines
  • Events
  • SmallSat Symposium Updates
  • Industry Calendar
    • IN PERSON
    • VIRTUAL
  • Subscribe

Space Flight Laboratory And GHGSat’s Successful Tests Of Three New Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Satellites

May 9, 2022

GHGSat-C3, GHGSat-C4 and GHGSat-C5 fully integrated and ready for launch (protective covers and aperture cover for shipping only).

“The GHGSat microsatellites are able to detect and measure methane emissions from sources on the Earth’s surface that are 100 times smaller than those identified by other satellites.”

Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) and GHGSat Inc. announced the successful completion of laboratory testing on the GHGSat-C3, C4, and C5 microsatellites at SFL’s facility in Toronto. Canadian based company GHGSat is expanding its constellation of methane monitoring satellites, expected to launch in spring/summer 2022.

“SFL is proud to play a role in the important work GHGSat is doing to provide greenhouse gas monitoring as a commercial service,” said SFL Director Dr. Robert E. Zee. “The GHGSat microsatellites are able to detect and measure methane emissions from sources on the Earth’s surface that are 100 times smaller than those identified by other satellites.”

The three new GHGSat commercial high-resolution satellites will join the company’s current constellation already in orbit — GHGSat-D (Claire), GHGSat-C1 (Iris) and GHGSat-C2 (Hugo) —  also built by SFL. Each microsatellite includes attitude control technology developed by SFL that enables the low-inertia platforms to point their onboard sensors precisely at emissions sources. All the GHGSat high-resolution satellites that have been, or are being, developed by SFL are built on the SFL 15-kilogram Next-generation Earth Monitoring and Observation (NEMO) microsatellite platform.

“We see emissions today. With a growing satellite constellation, GHGSat will be able to monitor even more methane emission sources around the world, offering more data and statistics on growing climate changes and trends. We have the data to make a difference,” says Stephane Germain, GHGSat CEO.

Artist’s depiction of GHGSat satellites in orbit. Credit: UTIAS-SFL

Testing of the GHGSat-C3, C4, and C5 satellites — named Luca, Penny, and Diako — began earlier this year following delivery of the methane-detecting sensors from ABB Measurement & Analytics Canada. SFL integrated the sensors into the NEMO buses and initiated a series of tests for each spacecraft and its subsystems, which included Long Form Functional Test, Electromagnetic Compatibility, Vibration, and Thermal Vacuum.

SFL also performed successful vibration testing of the XALT launch adapter which will mount the three microsatellites and their accompanying XPOD Delta deployer to a single 15-inch port on the launch vehicle. The XALT adapter and XPOD deployer are systems designed and developed by SFL to ensure the satellites separate safely from the launch vehicle.

“Throughout the testing, GHGSat-C3, C4, and C5 have met their design goals and are performing well above their baselines in all aspects,” said Dr. Benoit Larouche, SFL Mission Manager. “The satellites have been shipped to the launch site.”

SFL is a unique microspace provider that offers a complete suite of nano-, micro- and small satellites – including high-performance, low-cost cubesats which satisfy the needs of a broad range of mission types from 3 to 500 kilograms. Dating from 1998, SFL’s heritage includes 55 operational successes and 37 currently under construction or awaiting launch. These missions relate to Earth observation, atmospheric monitoring, ship tracking, communication, radio frequency (RF) geolocation, technology demonstration, space astronomy, solar physics, space plasma, and other scientific research.

In its 24-year history, SFL has developed cubesats, nanosatellites, and microsatellites that have achieved more than 186 cumulative years of operation in orbit. These microspace missions have included SFL’s trusted attitude control and, in some cases, formation-flying capabilities. Other core SFL-developed components include modular (scalable) power systems, onboard radios, flight computers, and control software.

Filed Under: Constellation, Data Acquisition, SmallSat, Test

Primary Sidebar

Most Read Stories

  • ULA's Amazon Project Kuiper now set for April 28 launch
  • Rocket Lab confirms D2C ambitions
  • Russian satellite tumbling out of control
  • ULA's launch of Amazon Project Kuiper now is YTBD
  • UPDATE: United Launch Alliance Amazon Project Kuiper launch targeting April 28

About Satnews

  • Contacts
  • History

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020

Secondary Sidebar

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy
x
Sign up Now (For Free)
Access daily or weekly satellite news updates covering all aspects of the commercial and military satellite industry.
Invalid email address
Notify Me Regarding ( At least one ):
We value your privacy and will not sell or share your email or other information with any other company. You may also unsubscribe at anytime.

Click Here to see our full privacy policy.
Thanks for subscribing!