Dutch scientists have taken a major step in the fight against climate change. They are working together on a powerful new satellite system that will track greenhouse gas emissions across the globe.
A Giant Leap in Tracking Pollution from Space
This system, called TANGO (Twin Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas Observers), is made up of two satellites. These satellites are designed to observe and measure harmful gases from human activities directly from space.
TANGO is being developed by a team of Dutch organizations under the guidance of the European Space Agency (ESA). These organizations include KNMI, TNO, SRON, and ISISPACE. Each one is playing a different role in making the satellite system possible. One is responsible for building the satellites, another for designing the instruments, and the others for overseeing the science behind it.
The launch of the satellites is planned for 2028. Once in orbit, they will scan the Earth’s surface to detect where and how much carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) are being released into the atmosphere. These are some of the main gases that contribute to global warming and air pollution.
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The idea is to “make the invisible visible” by using high-tech tools to locate exact places that release these gases. These include power plants, factories, and landfills. According to the organizations involved, the system will track sources that are responsible for around 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This will give scientists and policymakers a clearer picture of where pollution is coming from and how much is being released.
The Role of Each Organization in the TANGO Mission
Each Dutch organization involved in the TANGO project has a specific and important role. The company ISISPACE, based in Delft, is building the twin satellites that will carry the measuring tools. These satellites are designed to be compact yet advanced enough to travel around the Earth and collect data with great accuracy.
The TNO institute is in charge of creating the instruments that will measure the gases. These instruments are designed to pick up the exact amount of harmful gases coming from a particular place on Earth. This is done from hundreds of kilometers above the surface.
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Meanwhile, KNMI and SRON are leading the scientific research behind the mission. They will analyze the information gathered by the satellites and make sure it is accurate and reliable. Their job is to ensure that the data tells the true story of how much pollution is being released and from where.
TANGO’s focus on human-made (also known as anthropogenic) emissions sets it apart from other missions. While there are already satellites that track pollution in general, TANGO will focus on pollution from human activities. This includes measuring gas emissions from individual sources, something that has never been done on such a wide scale.
TANGO vs. Earlier Emission-Tracking Tools
This is not the first time Dutch experts have built tools to measure pollution from space. In 2017, a Dutch-made instrument called TROPOMI was launched into space. TROPOMI circles the Earth and tracks air pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane.
However, TANGO goes a step further. It is more advanced because it also measures carbon dioxide, the gas most responsible for global warming. Carbon dioxide is released in large amounts from burning coal, oil, and gas. Unlike TROPOMI, which looks at pollution on a broader level, TANGO will focus on pinpointing exact locations that release these gases.
By flying in tandem, the two satellites in the TANGO system will be able to cross-check each other’s data. This ensures that the measurements are highly accurate. They will fly in the same orbit and observe the same area just seconds apart. This twin-satellite approach helps detect smaller sources of pollution that could go unnoticed by other systems.
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Another advantage of the TANGO system is its ability to measure pollution near ground level. It doesn’t just look at the total amount of gas in the air; it identifies how much is coming from specific sources like a landfill or a power plant. This makes the data much more useful for understanding and controlling pollution.
The TANGO mission highlights how technology and science can come together to tackle one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time. It is an important step in using space to observe Earth more closely and understand the human impact on the atmosphere.
