China Launches Satellite for Methane Monitoring

Beijing – China successfully launched the Lijian-1 Y5 commercial rocket on Monday, carrying 15 satellites, including Xiguang-1 04, the country’s first satellite dedicated to methane monitoring.

Developed by Xiopm SPACE, a space company under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Xiguang-1 04 is equipped with specialized cameras to monitor methane emissions, chlorophyll levels, and other spectral data, according to the Xinhua news agency.

This satellite is China’s first designed specifically to detect and measure methane emissions with high resolution.

Methane, a major component of natural gas, serves as both an energy source for the chemical industry and a potent greenhouse gas.