New Zealand is poised to take an active role in the MethaneSAT space mission through the new Mission Operations and Control Centre (MOCC) at Te Pūnaha Ātea-Space Institute at the University of Auckland.
The global methane tracking satellite, MethaneSAT, is scheduled to launch soon from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Designed to help combat climate change, the satellite uses state-of-the-art technology to detect methane emissions from oil, gas, agriculture and landfill.
The Mission Operations and Control Centre (MOCC) at the University will be responsible for the routine operations of the spacecraft, including payload operations, spacecraft health and safety, and collision avoidance.
The University has recruited experienced spacecraft operations staff for the MOCC and will introduce student involvement into the day-to-day operations.
This hands-on experience of operating a major space mission, coupled with courses such as aerospace engineering, provides a unique combination of practical and academic training to students looking to join the space sector.
Funding for the MOCC is administered by the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on behalf of the Government.
Read the official press release here.
University to operate methane tracking satellite
