The satellite system will map the sources responsible for around 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. The Evens Dutch Space instrument Tropomi that was launched in 2017 only visualizes 5% and only measures the greenhouse gases. Tango measures greenhouse gas emissions of individual sources such as power plants, garbage dumps and factories.
Harmful methane -leafs directly in the picture thanks to the new method of Dutch researchers: ‘Getting emissions down quickly’
Tango consists of two manoeuvrable satellites of 25 kilograms each turning around the earth. One satellite measures CO2 and methane emissions and the other nitrogen dioxide. In this way, Tango measures emissions from 150 to 300 large, industrial facilities and power plants every four days. This produces images of emissions.
Dutch Consortium
Tango is a mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) that is performed by a Dutch consortium. Isispace from Delft leads the implementation and is responsible for the satellites, launch and operations of the two satellites.
Research Institute TNO develops and builds the instruments that take the measurements of CO2, Methane and NO2 .. Space Research Organization Netherlands (SRON) in Leiden and the KNMI have the scientific leadership of the project. Tango is funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.