NarSha – Korea’s First Spaceborne Methane Monitoring Mission Using a Hyperspectral Microsatellite Constellation

Methane (CH₄) is a significant driver of climate change, responsible for approximately 30% of global warming since industrialization and exhibiting a global warming potential over 80 times greater than that of carbon dioxide (CO₂) on a 20-year timescale. Despite its impact, methane emissions remain highly uncertain due to systematic underreporting, particularly in the oil and gas sector. In 2020, South Korea emitted approximately 27 million tons of methane, accounting for 4.1% of national greenhouse gas emissions. The agriculture, waste, and energy sectors contributed 97% of these emissions, with fugitive emissions from energy operations exceeding 70%. To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, South Korea must reduce methane emissions by 40% relative to 2018 levels, requiring accurate and policy-relevant monitoring. To address limitations in existing satellite observations, including insufficient coverage over offshore and high-latitude regions, the NarSha project was initiated in 2023 as South Korea’s first spaceborne methane monitoring mission. The project aims to deploy a microsatellite constellation that provides high-resolution methane measurements to complement ground-based inventories and support local governments in implementing greenhouse gas reduction policies. By improving emission quantification and identifying discrepancies across sectors, NarSha enables evidence-based decision-making at regional and municipal levels. Led by Nara Space in collaboration with Seoul National University’s Climate Laboratory, and international partners like Scanway Space, the project plans to launch the Korean Methane Monitoring Microsatellite (K3M) in 2026. K3M will detect methane emission rates as low as 100 kg/h and deliver concentration products within four weeks using a short-wave infrared hyperspectral imager with sub-1 nm spectral resolution and ground sampling distance below 50 m. Integrated on a 16U CubeSat platform with precise attitude control, AI-enabled processing, and high-speed X-band communication, the system will enhance methane transparency and support climate mitigation efforts.