NASA has launched a new sensor called AVIRIS-5 onboard a high-altitude research aircraft to help geoscientists map critical minerals on Earth’s surface from a height of 60,000 feet. In partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), this initiative represents the largest airborne campaign of its kind in the United States. But the sensor’s capabilities go beyond Earth, as it shares similarities with sensors used to explore other planets.
The AVIRIS-5, which stands for Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer-5, is roughly the size of a microwave oven. Its primary function is to detect the spectral “fingerprints” of minerals and other compounds through the reflection of sunlight. This innovative sensor utilizes technology pioneered by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to survey not only Earth but also the Moon and other celestial bodies.
To learn more about NASA’s AVIRIS-5 sensor and its potential impact on mineral mapping and exploration, watch the video below:
[Watch the video here](https://www.youtube.com/embed/sQiE0u8qau0?feature=oembed)
Original Source: NASA