AstroForge space startup is preparing a mission to mine platinum on asteroids. The test flight is planned to be carried out in April this year. This will be the first attempt in the history of mankind to extract minerals from celestial bodies. Two spacecraft will be launched into orbit by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, Bloomberg reports.

During the first mission, there are no plans to land on an asteroid and extract minerals. It will include testing ways to purify platinum from asteroid materials in space. Such mining is more environmentally safe and harmless to the Earth's environment.

"We will clean the metal on the spot, from the asteroid. That is, we will get metal cleaned of waste, which will be much safer for the environment," the project CEO Matthew Gialich explained.

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