NASA’s High-Altitude ER-2 Aircraft Takes on a Major Mineral-Mapping Mission Across the Western United States

NASA’s airborne science program is in the spotlight again as pilot Kirt Stallings prepared for a high-altitude flight aboard the ER-2, one of NASA’s most specialized research aircraft. The flight took place at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on August 21, 2025, and was part of the ongoing Geological Earth Mapping Experiment, better known as GEMx. This mission has been steadily growing in importance because of its role in mapping critical mineral resources across the Western United States—resources considered essential for national security, the technology sector, and clean-energy industries.

Inside a transport vehicle just moments before stepping into the ER-2, Stallings waited in full pressure-suit gear—a necessary requirement for flying at an altitude of roughly 65,000 feet. At such extreme heights, the atmosphere is too thin for normal operations, so pilots depend on specially engineered suits similar to what astronauts wear. While Stallings prepared, the ER-2 sat outside being readied for yet another demanding data-collection mission, contributing to what has now become the largest airborne surface-mineralogy dataset ever assembled in a single NASA campaign.

What GEMx Is Trying to Achieve

GEMx is a multi-year collaboration between NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The United States currently depends heavily on foreign sources for dozens of minerals that go into electronics, renewable-energy infrastructure, EV batteries, national-defense systems, and high-tech manufacturing. Many of the 50 officially recognized critical mineral commodities are believed to exist domestically, but accurate, modern-resolution maps simply don’t exist for many regions.

The purpose of GEMx is to change that. Using high-altitude aircraft loaded with imaging-spectroscopy instruments, NASA is collecting extremely detailed measurements of mineral signatures across vast parts of the American West. These airborne surveys allow scientists to identify where certain minerals may be hiding beneath the surface, long before any physical digging or on-site exploration begins.

The aim is straightforward: build large-scale, modern mineral maps so that private-sector exploration, government agencies, and research institutions have reliable data when assessing new mineral resources. In other words, GEMx is helping the country understand what it actually has beneath its own soil.

A Record-Setting Year for NASA’s ER-2 Program

The year 2025 has been particularly productive for the GEMx effort. NASA’s ER-2 completed 36 science flights, accumulating over 200 hours of mission time and gathering more than seven billion individual measurements. That figure makes 2025 a milestone year—the ER-2 has never collected this volume of surface-mineral data in any previous campaign.

Each flight contributes another section of the Western United States to the growing mineral-mapping database. Mountains, deserts, basins, plateaus, and other geologically significant regions are being scanned strip by strip. When combined, these data will allow scientists to build detailed maps showing the distribution of clays, iron-bearing minerals, rare earth indicators, carbonate formations, and other important geologic signatures.

The ER-2 is especially effective for GEMx because of its operating altitude. Flying at 65,000 feet gives its onboard instruments a wide field of view while maintaining exceptionally high resolution. The result is a mineral-mapping capability unmatched by satellites, offering both precision and flexibility.

Why Imaging Spectroscopy Matters

A major strength of GEMx lies in its instrument suite—advanced imaging-spectrometers capable of examining light reflected from Earth’s surface across hundreds of narrow wavelengths. Every mineral has its own spectral fingerprint. By capturing these fingerprints from the air, scientists can identify minerals without physically sampling the ground.

Some of the instruments commonly associated with GEMx include:

• AVIRIS-Classic, a long-running airborne imaging-spectrometer
• AVIRIS-5, a newer system with improved sensitivity and resolution
• MASTER, the MODIS/ASTER Airborne Simulator
• HyTES, a thermal-emission imaging instrument used in some campaigns

These instruments allow GEMx scientists to collect not only mineral-composition data but also information about vegetation, soil chemistry, thermal patterns, and geological formations.

Why Critical Minerals Are a Big Deal

Critical minerals play a foundational role in countless modern technologies. The U.S. government maintains an updated list of minerals considered essential and vulnerable to supply disruption. Some appear in everyday items like smartphones and laptops. Others are essential for renewable-energy goals.

A few examples include:

• Lithium (EV batteries)
• Cobalt (high-performance alloys)
• Rare earth elements (motors, magnets, electronics)
• Nickel (battery chemistries and steel production)
• Graphite (battery anodes)
• Platinum-group elements (catalysts and industry)

A reliable domestic supply of such minerals is considered critical for the country’s economic stability, defense readiness, and clean-energy transition. GEMx cannot discover minerals on its own, but it can identify the geologic environments where they are more likely to be found, guiding exploration companies and research teams toward priority areas.

The Human Side of High-Altitude Science

Although GEMx is data-heavy and technology-driven, missions like these depend heavily on the people who operate the aircraft. ER-2 pilots undergo specialized training to fly at altitudes more commonly associated with military spy planes than civilian research missions. Their pressure suits ensure they remain safe if the cabin loses pressure at extreme heights.

Inside the Armstrong Flight Research Center, ground crews, engineers, scientists, and mission planners coordinate flights down to the smallest detail. From weather patterns to flight-path timing, every mission involves careful planning. GEMx flights often begin early in the morning, when lighting conditions are optimal for spectroscopy.

The ER-2 used in these missions is a civilian variant of the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. Though its shape resembles a Cold-War-era spy plane, its modern role is entirely scientific. Its long wings, powerful engines, and specialized design allow it to carry scientific instruments to altitudes higher than most commercial or private jets can reach.

Broader Impacts of the GEMx Mission

Once completed, GEMx will produce a high-resolution mineralogical map unlike anything the U.S. has ever had. Scientists expect the dataset to support:

• Mining-exploration companies seeking new mineral resources
• Policy decisions about resource management and supply-chain security
• Academic studies on geology, mineralogy, and landscape evolution
• Environmental planning, ensuring mineral exploration is done responsibly
• Future satellite calibration, improving mineral-mapping capabilities from space

The ripple effects are significant. Better mineral maps could help reduce reliance on foreign minerals, boost U.S. supply-chain resilience, and support clean-energy industries as they expand.

About the Research and Data Source

The news discussed here is based on confirmed details from NASA’s imaging and flight operations teams, along with official announcements related to the GEMx project.