New NASA Sensor Goes Hunting for Critical Minerals - NASA

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NASA's AVIRIS-5: Unlocking the Secrets of Earth's Surface from 60,000 Feet

A cutting-edge NASA sensor, AVIRIS-5, has taken to the skies to aid geoscientists in mapping rocks hosting critical minerals like lithium on Earth's surface. Cradled in a high-altitude research airplane, the sensor, short for Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer-5, is part of the largest airborne campaign of its kind in US history, collaborating with the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The mission, dubbed GEMx (Geological Earth Mapping Experiment), aims to modernize mapping of the nation's surface and subsurface. Over 200 hours of high-altitude flights have been logged over Nevada, California, and other Western states since this year began. This endeavor is part of a larger USGS initiative called Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI).

AVIRIS-5 uses advanced imaging spectrometry to detect the spectral "fingerprints" of minerals and compounds in reflected sunlight. By analyzing these unique chemical structures, the sensor can identify valuable resources like lithium-bearing clays. The device is equipped with black silicon, one of the darkest materials ever manufactured, which traps stray light, enhancing its performance.

This technology has been pioneered at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) since the late 1970s and has been successfully deployed in various missions across the solar system. The latest model boasts a spatial resolution twice as fine as its predecessor, allowing it to resolve areas ranging from less than a foot to about 30 feet.

So far, AVIRIS-5 has made an exciting early finding – a lithium-bearing clay called hectorite – identified in abandoned mines in California. This discovery highlights the potential for this technology to aid communities in capturing new value from old and abandoned prospects, as well as identifying sources of acid mine drainage.

The GEMx research project is expected to last four years, with funding from the USGS Earth MRI initiative through investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The mission will capitalize on both NASA-developed spectroscopic imaging technology and expertise in analyzing datasets to extract critical mineral information.

As part of this endeavor, AVIRIS-5 will aid researchers in exploring issues like land management, snowpack water resources, and wildfire risk, with a focus on identifying sources of critical minerals at risk of supply chain disruption. The sensor's advanced capabilities are set to unlock the secrets of Earth's surface from 60,000 feet, providing valuable insights for geoscientists and policymakers alike.
 
OMG u guys! 🤯 I just read about NASA's AVIRIS-5 and I'm literally so hyped!!! They're using it to map rocks that have lithium in them which is like, super useful for making batteries and stuff 😂. The best part is they can detect it from 60,000 feet in the air! 🚀 Like, what even is that? And they've already found this one thing called hectorite which is a type of clay that's got lithium in it 🤓. I wish they'd share all their data online because I'm like totally curious about what other secrets they're uncovering 🤔. Also, can you imagine the movies they could make with this technology? 🎥 Like, sci-fi films where they're exploring space and discovering new worlds 🚀🌠. Anywayz, gotta say AVIRIS-5 is kinda like a superhero for geoscientists 💪.
 
I'm not convinced about this whole AVIRIS-5 thing... I mean, 60,000 feet is just crazy! 🤯 They're basically flying a high-tech supercomputer above the Earth's surface to detect minerals from space? It sounds like something out of science fiction. And what's with all these new technologies that are supposed to solve our problems but end up making us more dependent on them? Like, do we really need a device that can detect lithium-bearing clays in reflected sunlight? 🤔 Can't we just, I don't know, actually dig and mine the stuff like normal humans used to?

And have you seen the cost of this thing? 🤑 It's got all these fancy black silicon materials that are supposed to trap stray light, but I'm pretty sure it'll just end up breaking the bank. And what about all the data they're gonna collect? Are we really gonna need more information than we already have? 📊 It just seems like a lot of unnecessary tech to me...
 
I'm actually pretty stoked about this NASA thingy! 🚀 I mean, who wouldn't want to use a fancy new sensor in a plane to find more lithium on our planet? 🌎 It's like they're trying to help us unlock the secrets of Earth without even having to leave home. And it's not just about that - it's also about finding ways to manage land and water resources better, which is super important for the future.

I love that this technology has been developed by NASA over the years and now they're sharing it with other countries to help us all out. It's like a big team effort to figure out how to keep our planet healthy and happy. And with all these new discoveries being made, I think we're going to see some real changes in the way we do things.

I'm also curious about what kind of implications this is going to have for communities that are looking to make money from old mines or abandoned prospects. It's a great idea to help them tap into new value and reduce waste at the same time. All in all, I think AVIRIS-5 is a pretty cool tool that could lead to some amazing things! 💡
 
I don't usually comment but I'm kinda hyped about this NASA tech lol 🚀💡 AVIRIS-5 is like, whoa! I mean, being able to detect lithium-bearing clays from 60k feet in the air? That's wild! The idea of using advanced imaging spectrometry to find valuable resources is so cool. And the fact that it's not just about finding minerals but also about understanding land management and wildfire risk? Mind blown 🤯

I'm also thinking about how this tech could help communities in the US, especially in places with old abandoned mines. It's like, they're sitting on a treasure trove of resources, but nobody knows what's there yet 🤑

The spatial resolution is insane – it can see things as small as less than a foot! That's like, super useful for geoscientists and policymakers alike. I'm all for exploring new ways to extract value from our Earth's surface 💪
 
🌎 "The earth has music for those who listen." - William Butler Yeats

I think this is a huge step forward in mapping our planet's resources, especially with the tech being used here. It's like, we're finally able to tune into the unique frequencies of minerals and compounds, you know? And it's not just about finding more lithium or whatever, but also about understanding how these resources affect our environment and communities. Like, acid mine drainage is a real thing, and this tech could help us tackle that issue. It's all about being more sustainable and responsible with the earth's gifts 🌿
 
omg u guys i just heard about this NASA thingy AVIRIS-5 🤯 it's like a super powerful tool that can detect minerals in rocks from up high lol 60k ft is crazy!! i need to know more about hectorite tho what's that even do? 🤔 also i'm low-key hoping they'll use this tech to find some lithium near my favorite hiking spot 🏞️ anyone have any deets on when it'll be deployed in other states besides cali and nevada? 📆
 
🛰️ I'm loving this new tech NASA is using to map out our country's mineral resources! It's crazy how much data they're collecting from up high with AVIRIS-5. The whole idea of identifying valuable minerals like lithium in abandoned mines is genius. I mean, think about it - old mining sites can be a treasure trove for new tech companies and industries. It's amazing to see NASA working closely with the USGS on this project, they're really making a difference with this Earth MRI initiative 💡. The potential for this tech to inform land management decisions and help mitigate issues like acid mine drainage is huge 🌎
 
This new tech is super interesting, but have you thought about how this affects our national security? I mean, what if we're relying on these high-altitude flights to map minerals and resources... what if those resources are being exploited by foreign powers? We need to consider the geopolitical implications of this technology falling into the wrong hands. And let's not forget about our domestic policies - with access to critical mineral resources, can we guarantee they'll be distributed fairly among all regions? This mission seems like a great step forward for geoscientists, but we gotta keep an eye on how it affects our nation's overall well-being 🤔
 
I don’t usually comment but... AVIRIS-5 is like whoa 🤯! I mean, can you even imagine being able to map rocks hosting critical minerals like lithium just by flying over the surface from 60,000 feet? It's mind-blowing 😲. And the fact that they've already made an exciting early finding in California, identifying a lithium-bearing clay called hectorite, is super cool 💥.

I think this tech has huge potential to help communities catch new value from old and abandoned mines, which could be a game-changer for those areas 🌎. And it's not just about geoscientists either - the data they'll gather will also inform land management decisions, water resource management, and even wildfire risk assessments 📊.

But what really gets me excited is that this tech has been in development for decades at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory 🚀. To see it finally come to fruition and be used on such a large scale is amazing 👏. Can't wait to see where this mission takes us! 🌟
 
I'm thinking about this mission and it got me wondering, what does it mean to uncover hidden resources beneath our feet? Like, do we ever really know what's beneath the surface or are there always secrets waiting to be unearthed? 🤔 I mean, lithium, for example, was once thought to be super scarce, but here we are with a new tech that can detect its presence from 60,000 feet. It makes me think about our relationship with the earth and how we're only just starting to scratch the surface (pun intended). And what does this say about our priorities as a society? Are we more interested in the surface-level gains of technology or are we genuinely trying to understand and mitigate our impact on the planet? 🌎
 
🚀 I think it's super cool that NASA is using AVIRIS-5 to help geoscientists find valuable resources like lithium on Earth's surface. The fact that this technology has been developed over 40 years ago at JPL and now has a spatial resolution twice as fine as its predecessor shows how far the tech has come! 🤖

The idea of using this sensor to identify sources of acid mine drainage is also really interesting, especially since it could help communities capture new value from old and abandoned mines. It's like finding a treasure trove of resources just waiting to be tapped! 💎 The fact that this mission will last four years with funding from the USGS Earth MRI initiative through investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law shows how serious they are about making this technology work.

I think it's also worth noting that AVIRIS-5 is part of a larger effort called GEMx, which aims to modernize mapping of the nation's surface and subsurface. With over 200 hours of high-altitude flights logged so far, I'm curious to see what other exciting discoveries this mission will make! 🚁
 
😊 I can imagine how exciting it must be for those working on this project, finally getting their hands on tech that's gonna make a real difference in identifying valuable resources like lithium on our planet 🌎 And think about all the abandoned mines in California that were just waiting to be explored again, and now they're getting that chance thanks to AVIRIS-5 💡 It's amazing how technology can bring new life to old places and help communities thrive 💪 I'm sure it won't be long before we see a ripple effect of innovation and progress from this mission 🌈
 
🚀🌎💡 just saw that NASA's AVIRIS-5 is like, super cool 🤩! They're using it to map rocks with critical minerals like lithium on Earth's surface from 60,000 feet 🤯! The technology is so advanced 💻, it uses imaging spectrometry to detect the "fingerprints" of minerals and compounds in reflected sunlight 🔍. And the best part? It can identify valuable resources like lithium-bearing clays 💰!

I'm excited about this mission, GEMx 🌟, because it's going to help communities capture new value from old and abandoned prospects 🌈. Plus, it'll aid researchers in exploring issues like land management, snowpack water resources, and wildfire risk 🔴. It's all about unlocking the secrets of Earth's surface 💡! Can't wait to see what other cool things they discover 🤔👀💻
 
OMG 🤯 I'm literally FREAKING OUT over this new NASA tech!!! AVIRIS-5 is going to revolutionize the way we map our planet's surface and uncover hidden resources like lithium 🌎💎. The fact that it can detect specific "fingerprints" of minerals in reflected sunlight is MIND-BLOWING 🔍. I mean, who wouldn't want to know exactly where to find the good stuff? 🤑 And the best part? It's going to help us identify areas at risk of supply chain disruption and support more sustainable land management practices 🌿💚. This tech is seriously going to change the game for geoscientists and policymakers alike! 💥 I'm so hyped to see what other discoveries this sensor will make over the next four years 🎉🔬.
 
The integration of AVIRIS-5 into the GEMx mission represents a paradigmatic shift in our understanding of Earth's geological topology 🚀. By leveraging advanced imaging spectrometry, researchers can now accurately pinpoint the presence of critical minerals like lithium at high altitudes, potentially reinvigorating dormant mining operations and promoting more efficient resource extraction 🌎. The fact that this technology was pioneered by NASA's JPL in the late 1970s speaks to the ingenuity of human innovation, while its modern application serves as a testament to the continued relevance of space exploration in informing our terrestrial endeavors 💡.
 
I'm loving this tech, but it got me thinking - what's up with our government investing in space exploration while we still have huge gaps in basic infrastructure like roads and public transportation back here on Earth? I mean, think about it, the GEMx project is all about mapping our surface, which sounds like a great idea for resource management and all that. But when are we gonna use those resources to build roads, schools, and hospitals instead of just focusing on getting more lithium? 🚀🤔
 
OMG, I'm so stoked about this new NASA tech - AVIRIS-5 is literally going to revolutionize how we map our planet! 🤯 Like, can you even imagine having a device that can detect minerals from 60,000 feet in the air? It's like something straight out of a sci-fi movie 😎. And the fact that it's helping researchers identify valuable resources and monitor issues like land management and wildfire risk is just, wow! 🌟 I'm also loving how this technology can help communities tap into old abandoned mines and create new economic opportunities 💸. The spatial resolution is insane - twice as fine as its predecessor? That's like having a superpower 😄. Fingers crossed the GEMx project is a huge success and we get to see some amazing results in the next four years 🚀!
 
man... imagine being up in that plane at 60k feet 🤯😲 with a device like AVIRIS-5 scanning the earth's surface... it's wild to think they're mapping rocks and minerals from up high 👀💡. and on top of that, they've already found something cool - hectorite! who knew abandoned mines in california had hidden gems? 🤑. this tech is gonna be a game changer for geoscientists and communities alike 🌎💻. just think about all the old mines that could be revitalized... and then there's the environmental aspect too, detecting acid mine drainage and whatnot... it's amazing how NASA's been working on this stuff since the 70s and now they've got an upgraded version 🔥👍
 
🌟 Just saw that NASA's AVIRIS-5 is out there scanning our planet 🌎 from 60k feet! It's wild to think about this tech being used to map rocks for critical minerals like lithium 💡. I'm all for innovation in Earth mapping, and the fact that it's helping researchers explore land management, water resources, and wildfire risk issues is a major plus 🤝. The use of advanced imaging spectrometry to detect "fingerprints" of minerals and compounds in sunlight is mind-blowing 🔍. It'll be interesting to see how this tech supports communities in capturing new value from old prospects and identifying sources of acid mine drainage 💪. Fingers crossed that the GEMx research project brings us closer to unlocking some real secrets about our planet 🌈!
 
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