NASA working out of Colorado Springs bringing space technology to Earth

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - The U.S. Geological Survey and NASA are conducting high-altitude mineral surveys across the Western United States.

This collaborative effort, known as the Geological Earth Mapping Experiment, or GEMx, aims to map critical mineral deposits to improve environmental mining processes, enhance national security, and boost the nation's economy, according to officials.

Teresa Kirschling, USGS deputy associate director, elaborated on the application of this technology. "What we're doing here is turning that toward the earth and looking toward the earth to understand what's on the surface and how that's interacting with light," Kirschling said. "It's giving us very vivid images that help us, you know, characterize which minerals are present where."

The surveys are part of the USGS's Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, called Earth MRI, which partners with state geological surveys, educational institutions and industry. These initiatives seek to identify critical minerals that are commonly used in everyday products, such as cell phones, roads, and even food, says USGS.

The mission utilizes high-altitude aircraft, NASA's ER-2, based at the Colorado Springs Airport.

Justin Bright, a NASA research pilot, operates the ER-two aircraft on its unique mission. He flies the plane at an altitude of 65,000 feet, surveying the Western United States to map the presence of minerals. Bright described the experience of flying the ER-2. "And you take a deep breath, and you're looking at the curvature of the Earth. You see the darkness of space. And you think, " Wow, what a special job to be able to sit up here and do this. " It's pretty amazing," Bright said.

The instruments mounted on the ER-2 include NASA's AVIRIS (Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer), HyTes (Hyperspectral Thermal Emission Spectrometer), and MASTER (MODIS/ASTER Airborne Simulator), which collect hyperspectral images that use color to show the geophysical complexities of Earth's surface and atmosphere.

Acquiring this data is intended to address the current gaps in knowledge regarding domestic mineral resources. The U.S. faces a higher supply risk for these materials due to significant imports. Mapping the country's mineral potential is considered critical to address this risk, according to officials.

"We have a higher supply risk, in part because we're importing a lot of those materials. And so surveys like what we're running right now are really critical to be able to map our mineral potential," says Kirschling.

The Geological Earth Mapping Experiment is scheduled to continue its operations through Fall 2026.

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