NASA’s New Sensor Aims to Uncover Critical Minerals from Above

NASA is deploying a state-of-the-art sensor to identify critical minerals across the American West. The sensor, known as AVIRIS-5 (Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer-5), is a product of technology developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in the 1970s. Designed to fit inside the nose of NASA’s high-altitude ER-2 aircraft, AVIRIS-5 is about the size of a microwave. Its first version was utilized in 1986, and JPL has continued to enhance its capabilities over the years.

This initiative is part of the GEMx project, a collaborative effort between NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The project aims to detect surface traces of critical minerals essential for manufacturing consumer electronics and military technologies. Since its launch, the team has surveyed over 366,000 square miles (approximately 950,000 square kilometers) of the American West, particularly focusing on desert areas where mineral spectroscopy proves effective due to the sparse vegetation.

One of the significant advantages of AVIRIS-5 is its ability to identify minerals that reflect unique wavelengths of light. By analyzing these reflections, the sensor captures “spectral fingerprints” specific to various critical minerals. The USGS defines critical minerals as those having “significant consequences for the economic or national security of the U.S.” These minerals include aluminum, lithium, zinc, graphite, tungsten, and titanium. They play crucial roles in the supply chains for technologies such as semiconductors, solar power systems, and electric vehicle batteries.

In March 2025, the White House issued an Executive Order aimed at enhancing the production of these minerals, citing that American national and economic security are “now acutely threatened by our reliance upon hostile foreign powers’ mineral production.” This context underscores the urgency of identifying domestic sources of critical minerals.

AVIRIS-5 is also poised to serve purposes beyond mineral exploration. Similar spectrometers developed by JPL have been utilized on various spacecraft to study planets within our solar system, including Mars, Mercury, and Pluto. As a JPL spokesperson noted, “One is en route to Europa, an ocean moon of Jupiter, to search for the chemical ingredients needed to support life.”

Dana Chadwick, an Earth system scientist at JPL, emphasizes the broader applications of this new technology. “The breadth of different questions you can take on with this technology is really exciting, from land management to snowpack water resources to wildfire risk,” Chadwick stated. “Critical minerals are just the beginning for AVIRIS-5.”

As NASA continues to refine its mineral detection methods, the implications for both national security and technological advancement could be substantial. The successful identification and sourcing of critical minerals may pave the way for a more secure and sustainable future in technology and energy production.