GHGSat has achieved first light for its two newest methane-monitoring satellites, Eleonore and Nuray. The spacecraft, designated C-16 and C-17, recently captured their initial images of industrial emissions.
C-17 successfully imaged an oil and gas site in the United States on July 27, recording enhancements up to 80 parts per billion. The following day, C-16 detected methane emissions at a landfill in South Africa. The C-16 imagery shows an enhancement above background levels reaching up to 160 parts per billion.
These early images mark an operational milestone as the spacecraft prepare to deliver commercial data. Both payloads were deployed into low-Earth orbit during the SpaceX Transporter-17 rideshare mission earlier in July.
“With Eleonore and Nuray joining our constellation, we are furthering a capability that no other organization in this sector can replicate,” said Stephane Germain, GHGSat chief executive officer. “The science is clear. Real-world inventories must include satellite measurements. Greater satellite capacity means more frequent observations, faster detection, and more actionable intelligence for our customers.”
The company currently operates the largest fleet of methane-monitoring satellites globally, observing millions of sites every year. The integration of C-16 and C-17 addresses demand for high-resolution emissions data. Carbon-intensive industries rely on this specific infrastructure to pinpoint exact emission sources and quantify output. The expanded fleet facilitates daily revisits to target industrial facilities. For commercial partners, this increased observation frequency can translate into rapid mitigation responses and improved resource management.
Following company tradition, the satellites are named after the children of GHGSat personnel. C-16 carries the name of the four-year-old daughter of Ewan Tarrant, a software team lead. Tarrant noted the launch serves as a tangible connection to the overarching purpose of limiting climate change impacts for future generations.
C-17 is named for the 13-year-old daughter of Mamdouh El Oufy, the sales director for the Middle East and North Africa. Nuray translates to bright moon in Turkish, linking the name to space technology and environmental monitoring. The company intends to launch two additional satellites this year, C-18 and C-19.