Aug 16 (Reuters) - A coalition using NASA-developed

technology and backed by philanthropists including former New

York mayor Mike Bloomberg will launch the first in a series of

satellites on Friday to pinpoint leaks of the planet-warming gas

methane from space.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

The launch, aboard the SpaceX Transporter-11 Rideshare

mission, is a milestone for the Carbon Mapper Coalition, which

was formed in 2021. The partnership includes NASA's Jet

Propulsion Laboratory, satellite firm Planet Labs, RMI

and Arizona State University, with financial backing from High

Tide Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Grantham Foundation

for the Protection of the Environment, Zegar Family Foundation

and Children's Investment Fund Foundation.

The satellite, called Tanager-1, will be able to spot

methane leaks from individual facilities such as oil refineries

and landfills. The technology is meant to help polluting

industries find and plug leaks, and data will be available

through a public online portal.

Carbon Mapper plans to launch additional satellites that,

combined, will be able to track up to 90% of the world's large

methane plumes daily.

Scientists say identifying methane sources is crucial to

making the drastic emissions cuts needed to avoid the worst

impacts of climate change.

KEY QUOTE

"There is more momentum than ever to act on climate. But a

lack of public and private investment in global methane and CO2

monitoring has left gaps that leave many emissions untracked and

unaddressed," Richard Lawrence, founder of High Tide Foundation,

said in a statement.

BY THE NUMBERS

Methane is more than 80 times more powerful than carbon

dioxide in its first 20 years in the atmosphere.

"Super-emitters," or sources that emit more than 100

kilograms (220 lb) of methane per hour, contribute up to 20% to

60% of a region's total emissions in some sectors, Carbon Mapper

Chief Executive Riley Duren said.

SpaceX will launch the satellite from Vandenberg Space Force

Baser in California. The 53-minute window for launch opens at

11:20 a.m. local time (1820 GMT).