Technopark startup develops robotic lander to search for water on asteroids

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: HEX20, a space startup based at Technopark, has developed a robotic spacecraft to study the presence of water and the mineral composition of asteroids. The spacecraft will be used in a space exploration mission of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Scientists believe that studying asteroids, which are as old as the solar system, could help explain how the universe and water were formed. The UAE's Mohammed Bin Rashid Explorer (MBR Explorer) mission has been designed with this objective.

Seven asteroids to be studied

After its launch from Japan in March 2028, the spacecraft will fly past six asteroids located between Mars and Jupiter and observe them using its camera systems. It is expected to reach the seventh asteroid, 269 Justitia, by 2034. A lander will then be deployed on its surface in 2036.

HEX20 is developing the autonomous lander that will descend onto the surface of Justitia and transmit information back to Earth. Other institutions involved in the mission include TII's Propulsion and Space Research Centre, the UAE Space Agency, Khalifa University and the National Space Science and Technology Centre of the UAE University.

A team of Malayali youngsters

HEX20 was founded by a group of Malayali youngsters. The company has built India's first satellite in the private sector. It is now the first private company from India to be part of a UAE space exploration mission. HEX20 CEO Amal Chandran said developing the lander and the software required to operate it was a challenging task. The project took 15 months to complete.

What are asteroids?

Asteroids are rocky or metallic objects that revolve around the Sun. They are smaller than planets but larger than meteoroids. They are found in the solar system, mainly in the region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.