The first-ever government-funded space mission is scheduled for take-off this morning. 

The American-New Zealand mission will see the MethaneSAT satellite launched into space to study global emissions from agriculture and measure methane leaks from oil and gas production. 

Auckland University Spacecraft Mission Operations Director Chris Jackson says the ultimate goal is to drive down global warming effects from methane sources. 

He says methane is a very potent greenhouse gas, more so than carbon dioxide, so stopping it leaking can have a reversing effect. 

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