Next-generation GHGSat satellites to expand commercial greenhouse gas monitoring

by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 13, 2025
SFL Missions Inc. has secured a contract from GHGSat, Montreal, to supply two additional commercial microsatellites for the GHGSat greenhouse gas monitoring constellation. The satellites, designated GHGSat-C18 and GHGSat-C19, are in development at SFL Missions' Toronto facility, which is currently working on 37 satellites for clients in the commercial, government, and research sectors.

GHGSat-C18 and C19 will be based on the same 15-kg NEMO platform previously used for the construction of 11 other GHGSat satellites. Upon completion, both units will be sent to Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, for launch as a pair aboard a SpaceX Transporter mission.

SFL Missions Director and CEO Dr. Robert E. Zee said, "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 first demonstrated the detection and quantification of facility-level methane emissions from orbit in 2016. Today, data from GHGSat satellites inform emission-mitigation efforts for government and industry clients in sectors such as oil and gas, power generation, mining, waste management, and agriculture. GHGSat reports supporting a reduction of more than 20 MT CO2 equivalent of methane since operations began, an amount comparable to the yearly emissions of more than 4.6 million cars.

The company selected SFL Missions due to the reliable, precise attitude control and target tracking offered by SFL's satellite designs. These systems enable accurate sensor pointing, supporting the detection and measurement of emissions from sources as small as 25 square meters on the ground.

GHGSat CEO Stephane Germain said, "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."