Pirate's Cove

San Francisco’s streets are full of poop, people using drug needles openly, and used drug needles all over. LA’s streets are filthy. Homelessness is high and rising. Housing prices are beyond ridiculous. And so much more. But

California is ‘launching our own damn satellite’ to track pollution, with help from Planet

California plans to launch a satellite to monitor pollution in the state and contribute to climate science, Governor Jerry Brown announced today. The state is partnering with satellite imagery purveyor Planet to create a custom craft to “pinpoint – and stop – destructive emissions with unprecedented precision, on a scale that’s never been done before.”

Governor Brown made the announcement in the closing remarks of the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, echoing a pledge made two years ago to scientists at the American Geophysical Union’s 2016 meeting.

“With science still under attack and the climate threat growing, we’re launching our own damn satellite,” Brown said today.

This would be the same climate summit which witnessed thousands of people from around the world fly in on fossil fueled airplanes, not too mention all the fossil fueled autos used to ferry them around.

Planet, which has launched hundreds of satellites in the last few years in order to provide near-real-time imagery of practically anywhere on Earth, will develop and operate the satellite. The plan is to equip it with sensors that can detect pollutants at their point sources, be they artificial or natural. That kind of direct observation enables direct action.

Technical details of the satellite are to be announced as the project solidifies. We can probably expect something like a 6U Cubesat loaded with instruments focused on detecting certain gases and particulates. An orbit with the satellite passing across the whole state along its north/south axis seems most likely; although Planet specializes in geosynchronous orbits, it seems unlikely that a single craft sitting in one place could offer adequate coverage. That said, multiple satellites are also a stated possibility.

What they do not tell you is that a 6U Cubesat is what’s called a nanosatellite, because it is tiny. It is also not meant to be in orbit for more than a year or so. They are for quick projects, not long term surveys. They cost at least $50,000, then at least another $100,000 to launch. If Brown wants a real satellite for long term science, well, something like that cost at least $50 million, plus launch costs.

Anyway, what’s it going to survey? How much carbon pollution is put out be the citizens of California as they drive their fossil fueled vehicles and welcome lots of people coming on vacations on fossil fueled flights?