Bengaluru-based space tech startup Pixxel Space plans to map the moon and asteroids once its constellation of Earth-observing satellites is ready, in the hopes of locating the materials needed to build habitats in space.
During a media interaction, Pixel Space co-founder and CEO Awais Ahmed mentioned the startup’s long-term plans which include exploring asteroids to find building materials and fuel sources for future space habitats.
He added, “We are developing hyperspectral cameras that will observe Earth. If we point the same cameras outward, we can observe other objects in space. We can send these spacecraft to the Moon, Mars, the asteroid belt and map the solar system.”
He also revealed that the startup wants to place a satellite in lunar orbit to explore Earth’s only natural satellite in more detail.
He explained, “They will travel between Mars and Jupiter in the asteroid belt and be able to identify which of these asteroids are shocking and useless, and which ones have valuable material that can be useful in space.”
He said the satellite could search for ice on asteroids and break it down into hydrogen and oxygen to use as fuel or store as water.
He said, “As humanity moves into space, it doesn’t make sense to mine all of that material from Earth when there is actually much more available material in space.”
Space technology startup Pixxel plans to launch six hyperspectral satellites later this year as part of a constellation to map the planet in greater detail. The company also said it plans to launch 18 more satellites next year, completing the Bengaluru-based startup’s low-Earth-orbit constellation.
