Exobotics, the UK satellite firm lowering the barriers of entry to space, has won a multi-million-pound customer contract from advanced materials specialist Quantum Generative Materials (GenMat) to construct a high-precision, remote sensing prospecting satellite.

 

Exobotics will design, manufacture, and test a CubeSat satellite platform with a hyperspectral imaging payload to allow GenMat to canvas the natural environment anywhere on the planet. In untapped locations, the GenMat technology locates minerals that will play a critical role in creating a novel circular ecosystem of advanced materials, such as semiconductors. This will form the first of GenMat’s constellations, which the firm says could reach up to 600 satellites to cover every inch of the Earth.

Boosting material detection worldwide

 

The satellite will be capable of identifying rich areas of resources and mineralisation zones in previously under-utilised locations. Research from the International Energy Agency estimates that China controls over 71 per cent of the world’s extraction and 87 per cent of the world’s processing capacity of rare earths. With the new satellite, GenMat aims to begin boosting material detection and extraction in other regions of the world, supporting national and regional economies.

 

GenMat will apply its machine learning and AI algorithms to the space data collected by the satellite in order to provide customers in the mining and agricultural industries with high-precision prospecting information of a target site location for advanced materials.

 

The hyperspectral imager, produced by Simera Sense, will be capable of high-resolution imaging at less than five metres per pixel in the 450nm–900nm range, with a payload support system to enable imaging with high-speed radios in S and X bands. This technology will lay the groundwork for the quantum sensing space roadmap.

 

With the project underway, Exobotics will oversee the end-to-end production of the nano-satellite platform in their London engineering labs, which is set to launch later this year with Elon Musk’s SpaceX aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.

Space: Breaking down the barriers to entry

 

“We are delighted to be manufacturing GenMat’s high-precision prospecting satellite to help provide unique insights of advanced materials in the natural environment across the globe,” remarked Nadeem Gabbani, Founder of Exobotics. “Space data has a variety of under-explored applications which can greatly benefit industries such as mining, and we are excited to break down the barriers to entry to space for our customers in order to help them launch innovative solutions to macro issues,” he continued.

 

“A key barrier for businesses outside of the industry is the length of time required to get into space. This project is being carried out through our fast-track programme which will help GenMat to go from concept to launch in under 12 months, providing fast access to space,” added Mr Gabbani. 

 

Deep Prasad, Founder and CEO of GenMat, said his business is developing products that are vitally important for creating sustainable technology infrastructures – both on Earth, and in Space Exploration. “While we are building an AI that informs the production of advanced materials such as semiconductors, we also believe in the significance that our sensors play for the next generation of advancements in the agricultural, mining and defence sectors,” he remarked.