NASA has begun a new high-altitude mission. The goal is to find critical minerals. The search is happening from about 60,000 feet above the ground.
The space agency is using a special research plane. The plane is called the ER-2 aircraft. It flies very high in the sky. On board is a new scientific sensor named AVIRIS-5.
This project is a partnership. NASA is working with the U.S. Geological Survey. The joint effort is called the GEMx project.
The mission is to look for minerals that are very important. These minerals are used in modern technology. They are used in energy systems and are vital for national security.
The sensor works by looking at light. It measures how sunlight reflects off the Earth’s surface. It looks at many different wavelengths of light.
Different minerals reflect light in unique ways. Scientists can see these unique patterns from the air. They are like a “spectral fingerprint” for each mineral.
The project has been surveying large areas since 2023. It has looked at over 366,000 square miles. The team focuses on desert regions in the American West.
Deserts have less plants and trees. This makes it easier to see the minerals on the ground.
The data collected is very useful. It helps improve the understanding of America’s own mineral resources. The information can also help with land planning. It supports other Earth science studies.
How the High-Flying Sensor Works
The AVIRIS-5 sensor is about the size of a microwave oven. It is mounted inside the nose of the ER-2 plane.
The plane is based in California. It flies from the Armstrong Flight Research Center.
The instrument takes very detailed pictures. It uses visible light and infrared light. It analyzes the light that bounces back from the ground.
This lets scientists identify specific minerals on the surface. They can spot minerals needed for modern life.
The GEMx project is looking for several key minerals. The list includes aluminum, lithium, and zinc. It also includes graphite, tungsten, and titanium.
These materials are in many products we use every day. They are in computer chips and solar panels. They are also in batteries for electric cars.
The U.S. government calls these “critical minerals.” They are materials where a shortage could hurt the economy or national security.
NASA points out this technology is not new. It was first developed in the 1970s. A similar tool is currently traveling to Jupiter’s moon, Europa. It will search for chemicals that could support life there.
Policy and the Future of the Project
This mineral hunt is happening at an important time. The U.S. government wants to rely less on other countries for key materials.
In March 2025, the White House issued an order. It called for more mineral production inside the United States. The order said reliance on foreign minerals is a threat.
The data from NASA’s flights can help with future decisions. However, NASA says the GEMx project itself is for science, not for commerce.
Scientists see many other uses for this technology. A researcher named Dana Chadwick works at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She is excited about the possibilities.
“The breadth of different questions you can take on with this technology is really exciting,” Chadwick said. She listed other uses like managing land and water. It can also help assess the risk of wildfires.
“Critical minerals are just the beginning for AVIRIS-5,” she added.
The GEMx project will continue. More flights are planned over the western United States. The information will be shared with different government agencies. It will help many fields of research.
NASA says this is a great example of space technology helping Earth. Tools made to explore other planets are now used to study our own. They help us find resources and understand environmental changes.
