Tanager 1, 2

Tanager [Planet]

Carbon Mapper is a constellation of earth observing satellites imaging the sources of greenhouse gas emissions like methane. The constellation is operated by the Carbon Mapper consortium, a public-private partnership aimed at providing information to help limit greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon Mapper, a new nonprofit organization, and its partners – the State of California, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA JPL), Planet, the University of Arizona, Arizona State University (ASU), High Tide Foundation and RMI – announced a pioneering program to help improve understanding of and accelerate reductions in global methane and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. In addition, the Carbon Mapper consortium announced its plan to deploy a ground-breaking hyperspectral satellite constellation with the ability to pinpoint, quantify and track point-source methane and CO2 emissions.

The first two Tanager satellites scheduled to launch in 2023 are designed to detect 80% of the largest global methane sources as well as the major carbon dioxide emitters. A larger constellation to follow in 2025 will begin providing frequent observations of greenhouse gas sources. The ultimate size of the Carbon Mapper constellation has not yet been determined.

Carbon Mapper’s visible and infrared imaging spectrometers, developed at NASA's JPL, are designed to provide data with a resolution of 30 meters per pixel and is designed to provide comprehensive, accurate, and timely measurement of methane, carbon dioxide, and 25+ other environmental indicators that are needed to closely monitor the health of Earth. The satellites are to be manufactured at Planet.

The first two satellites are to be launched in 2023.