Advanced Satellite Now Silent
However, on June 20, 2025, ground control received its final transmission. Despite repeated attempts to re-establish contact, the satellite has remained silent, likely due to a catastrophic power failure.
“Thanks to MethaneSAT, we have gained critical insight… This capacity will be valuable to other missions,” the team emphasized, underlining the broader scientific advancements made during its brief lifespan.
Bezos’ Broader Space Ambitions
MethaneSAT was just one part of Jeff Bezos’ broader space strategy. In addition to backing this environmental mission, Bezos leads Blue Origin, a private space company that’s working alongside Amazon’s Project Kuiper to deploy over 3,200 broadband satellites.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s SpaceX has already launched over 8,000 Starlink satellites, with more than 7,000 still in orbit.
Amazon has already signed deals with United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin for dozens of launches in support of Kuiper. It highlights growing competition in low Earth orbit (LEO), where technical resilience is as critical as innovation.
