NASA has introduced a cutting-edge sensor, the AVIRIS-5 (Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer-5), to enhance the search for critical minerals essential for modern technologies such as smartphones, electric vehicles (EVs), and renewable energy systems. This initiative is part of the ongoing GEMx project, a collaborative effort between NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), aimed at identifying surface traces of vital minerals in the American West.
The AVIRIS-5 sensor, developed from technology originating at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in the 1970s, is roughly the size of a microwave and is mounted in the nose of one of NASA’s ER-2 high-altitude research aircraft. Since its initial deployment in 1986, this technology has undergone significant improvements to enhance its capabilities.
Surveying the American West for Mineral Resources
Deserts have emerged as prime locations for mineral spectroscopy due to their sparse vegetation, allowing for clearer readings of the ground below. As of 2023, the joint NASA and USGS team has surveyed over 366,000 square miles (approximately 950,000 square kilometers) of the expansive terrain in the American West. The minerals targeted by the GEMx project possess unique chemical structures, which reflect various wavelengths of light. By capturing this reflected light, the AVIRIS-5 sensor can identify the “spectral fingerprints” that are characteristic of these critical minerals.
According to the USGS, critical minerals are defined as those that have significant implications for the economic and national security of the United States. These include elements such as aluminum, lithium, zinc, graphite, tungsten, and titanium. Such minerals are integral to the manufacturing supply chains for essential technologies, including semiconductors, solar energy systems, and batteries for electric vehicles.
In March 2025, the White House issued an Executive Order aimed at maximizing the production of these minerals, highlighting that American national and economic security is currently threatened by reliance on mineral production from foreign nations.
Expanding Applications of AVIRIS-5 Technology
Beyond its role in mineral exploration, the AVIRIS-5 sensor has a history of being utilized on spacecraft to advance NASA’s understanding of other planets, including Mars, Mercury, and Pluto. A spokesperson for JPL noted that one sensor is currently en route to Europa, a moon of Jupiter, to investigate the chemical components that could support life.
Dana Chadwick, an Earth system scientist at JPL, anticipates a wide range of applications for the AVIRIS-5 sensor beyond mineral detection. She expressed enthusiasm about the technology’s potential, stating, “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. Critical minerals are just the beginning for AVIRIS-5.”
As NASA continues to innovate with the AVIRIS-5 sensor, the implications for both resource management and scientific exploration are significant, potentially transforming how we approach challenges in both environmental sustainability and technological advancement.
