The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that about 200 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas is lost annually through leaks, venting and flaring — enough to cover roughly two‑thirds of the EU’s annual gas consumption.
Founded in 2022, AIRMO is a space-tech company building a methane-emissions monitoring platform for the energy industry. It combines measurements from drones, aircraft, and satellites to detect methane leaks, quantify emissions, identify sources, and turn that information into actionable data companies can use to address leaks and meet regulatory requirements.
Daria Stepanova, CEO and co-founder of AIRMO, is a space engineer with expertise in satellite development, launch operations, and commercialisation. She leads AIRMO’s commercial strategy, fundraising, and international expansion. Her first exposure to space came through a student team while at university.
She told me, “I found the idea that, within a year, you could go from nothing with a student team to actually building working satellite systems that could go into space so cool.”
The experience inspired her to pursue a career as a space engineer. She went on to co-found several startups and previously served as CTO of German Orbital Systems.
