July 14th 2024.
Pixxel Space, a startup based in Bengaluru, is in the process of deploying a group of Earth observation satellites. However, their plans go beyond just observing our planet. The company's co-founder and CEO, Awais Ahmed, shared their long-term vision during an interview with PTI editors at their headquarters in New Delhi.
Among their ambitious plans is to map the Moon and asteroids, and search for resources that could potentially be used for building settlements in outer space. Ahmed explained that they are developing hyper-spectral cameras that not only look at Earth, but also have the capability to observe other objects in space. These cameras could be used on spacecrafts sent to the Moon, Mars, or the asteroid belt to create a detailed map of our solar system.
In addition, Pixxel Space aims to place satellites in cis-lunar orbits around the Moon in order to study it in greater detail. By doing so, they hope to discover new insights about our planet's only natural satellite.
But their most intriguing plan involves exploring the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. According to Ahmed, they plan to identify asteroids that could potentially have valuable materials that could be used in space. These materials could range from precious metals to ice, which could be split into hydrogen and oxygen for fuel, or stored as water.
Ahmed explained that in the future, as humanity expands into space, it would not make sense to rely solely on Earth's resources when there is an abundance of materials available in space. He compared Pixxel Space's role to that of Elon Musk's SpaceX, which is revolutionizing space transportation, and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and other companies, which are developing habitats for space. Pixxel Space's goal is to provide the necessary materials for these endeavors.
Currently, Pixxel Space plans to launch six hyper-spectral satellites later this year as part of their constellation to map the Earth in greater detail. They also have plans to launch 18 more satellites next year to complete their constellation in low Earth orbit.
In conclusion, Pixxel Space's ultimate goal is to contribute to the future of space exploration and settlement by utilizing their innovative technology and resources.
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