NASA is conducting a large-scale effort to identify critical minerals from nearly 60,000 feet above Earth. The initiative focuses on resources that support smartphones, electric vehicles, and clean energy technologies.
NASA has introduced a high-tech sensor known as AVIRIS-5. The instrument is designed to detect surface traces of minerals across vast regions of the American West.
AVIRIS-5 stands for Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer-5. The technology originates from research developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory during the 1970s.
Roughly the size of a microwave oven, the AVIRIS-5 sensor is mounted inside the nose of NASA’s ER-2 high-altitude research aircraft. The first version of this technology was used in 1986 and has been continuously refined.
The AVIRIS-5 sensor serves as one of the latest tools in the GEMx project. GEMx is a collaborative research initiative between NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey.
The project aims to locate surface indicators of critical minerals. These materials are essential for consumer electronics manufacturing and advanced military technologies.
GEMx remains an ongoing mission. Desert regions are ideal for mineral spectroscopy due to minimal vegetation that would otherwise interfere with readings.
Since 2023, the research team has surveyed more than 366,000 square miles across the American West. The expansive coverage allows detailed mapping of mineral-rich terrain.
Many minerals targeted by the NASA critical minerals search possess unique chemical structures. These structures reflect distinct wavelengths of light.
By capturing reflected light signatures, AVIRIS-5 identifies spectral fingerprints unique to each mineral. This process enables precise detection from high altitude.
The USGS defines critical minerals as materials with major economic or national security implications. Examples include aluminum, lithium, zinc, graphite, tungsten, and titanium.
Such minerals form the backbone of supply chains for semiconductors, solar power systems, and electric vehicle batteries. Their availability directly affects modern technology.
In March 2025, the White House issued an executive order to expand domestic mineral production. The directive emphasized national and economic security risks tied to foreign dependence.
Beyond mineral detection, similar spectrometers developed by JPL have been used on spacecraft. These instruments help scientists study planetary bodies across the solar system.
Past missions have applied this technology to Mars, Mercury, and Pluto. Each deployment improved understanding of planetary composition.
A related spectrometer is currently en route to Europa. The mission seeks chemical elements that could support life on Jupiter’s ocean moon.
JPL Earth system scientist Dana Chadwick highlighted broader applications for AVIRIS-5. The technology supports research beyond mineral exploration.
Potential uses include land management, snowpack water monitoring, and wildfire risk assessment. The AVIRIS-5 sensor is expected to support multiple environmental challenges.
According to Chadwick, critical minerals represent only the first phase. The long-term value of AVIRIS-5 lies in its versatility across Earth system science.
