The Bengaluru based space tech startup Pixxel  Space has decided to map the moon and asteroids as it is ready with its constellation of Earth observation satellites. They want to look for the materials required to build settlements in outer space.

In a media interaction, the  Co-founder and CEO of Pixxel Space Awais Ahmed mentioned,the long term plans of the startups including the exploration of asteroids with the intention of finding building materials or possible fuel sources for future settlements in space.

He further added, "We are building hyperspectral cameras that look at the Earth. The same cameras can be turned outwards to look at other objects in space. We can send these spacecraft to the Moon, Mars or the asteroid belt, and build a map of the solar system."

He declared that, the startup would also like to place satellites in orbits around the Moon’s cis-lunar orbits in order to explore the Earth's only natural satellite in greater detail.

He explained that, “they can go between Mars and Jupiter in the asteroid belt and identify which of these asteroids are stunning and useless, and which of them have certain precious materials that can be useful in space."

He told that, Satellites can look for ice on asteroids which can be used as fuel by splitting it into hydrogen and oxygen, and can also be stored as water.

He mentioned, "So, when humanity expands towards space it does not make sense to mine all of that material from Earth when there's so much more material actually available in space."

The spactech startup Pixxel is planning expands its footprints to launch six hyper spectral satellites later this year as part of its constellation to map the Earth in greater detail. They also mentioned that, another 18 satellites are planned to launch next year that will complete the Bengaluru-based startup's constellation in low Earth orbit.