SFL Missions Inc. has been awarded a new contract by GHGSat of Montreal to build two additional commercial microsatellites, GHGSat-C18 and GHGSat-C19, for the expanding GHGSat greenhouse gas monitoring constellation.
These satellites are currently under construction, integration, and testing at SFL Missions’ Toronto facility, where a total of 37 satellites are now in development for various commercial, government, and research clients worldwide.
The new satellites will use SFL’s proven 15-kg NEMO platform, which balances cost, size, and performance effectively.
Over the past decade, SFL Missions has built 11 microsatellites for GHGSat using this platform.
Once completed, GHGSat-C18 and -C19 will be transported to Vandenberg Space Force Base in California for launch together on a SpaceX Transporter rideshare mission.
Dr Robert E. Zee, Director and CEO of SFL Missions, stated: “SFL Missions is pleased that GHGSat continues to rely on our exceptional record of on-orbit success and space-proven microspace technology as the foundation for its industry-leading greenhouse gas monitoring constellation.
“Our smaller satellite platforms offer a combination of size, performance, and cost effectiveness that is unmatched in the aerospace sector today.”
GHGSat pioneered satellite detection and measurement of methane emissions at facility-level from industrial sources in 2016.
Orbiting about 500 km above Earth’s surface, these satellites deliver methane emissions data with spatial resolution as precise as 25 metres, enabling the identification of emissions from specific industrial facilities such as oil and gas wells, power generation sites, mining operations, waste management, and agricultural locations.
This high resolution has been a critical factor in customers’ ability to reduce emissions worldwide. GHGSat claims to have supported mitigation of over 20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent methane emissions, roughly the annual emissions of 4.6 million cars.
The choice of SFL Missions to build the newest satellites was influenced by their satellite platforms’ reliable and highly accurate attitude control and target tracking systems.
This precise pointing ability is essential to the accurate sensor measurements required for detecting small-scale greenhouse gas emissions from sources as little as 25 square metres on the ground.
Stéphane Germain, CEO of GHGSat, praised the partnership: “SFL has been a trusted partner throughout our journey, and their expertise has played a critical role in helping us push the boundaries of what’s possible in environmental monitoring.
“By leveraging their expertise in building microsatellite technology, we have been able to transform the emissions-monitoring industry with innovative, low-cost solutions that deliver actionable emissions data from space.”
SFL Missions brings a strong heritage, having developed 91 operationally successful missions and accumulated over 400 cumulative years in orbit.
Beyond microsatellites, SFL builds nano, micro, and small satellites ranging from 3 to 500 kilograms, supporting a variety of Earth observation, communication, environmental monitoring, scientific research, maritime situational awareness, and space astronomy missions.
In addition to engineering and manufacturing capabilities at its Toronto facility, SFL Missions offers a Flex Production program, which allows NewSpace customers flexibility in satellite development or integration either at SFL’s site or other customer-designated locations.