Suited Up for Science: NASA ER-2 Pilot Prepares for GEMx Flight
In a significant advancement for mineral exploration, NASA’s ER-2 aircraft is playing a crucial role in the Geological Earth Mapping Experiment (GEMx), a collaborative initiative with the U.S. Geological Survey aimed at mapping critical mineral resources across the Western United States. This multi-year campaign is particularly timely, as it seeks to identify undiscovered deposits of at least some of the 50 mineral commodities deemed essential for U.S. national security, the technology sector, and the clean energy transition. As the nation aims to reduce its reliance on foreign minerals, modern mineral maps generated through GEMx will aid private sector exploration efforts, potentially unlocking vital resources that support economic growth and sustainability.
In 2025 alone, the ER-2 aircraft successfully completed 36 science missions, amassing over seven billion measurements across more than 200 flight hours. This impressive feat has resulted in the largest airborne surface mineralogy dataset ever collected in a single NASA campaign, showcasing the aircraft’s capabilities in high-altitude research. Operating at approximately 65,000 feet, the ER-2 pilots, including Kirt Stallings, donned specially designed pressure suits to safely navigate the thin atmosphere. The data collected will not only enhance the understanding of mineral distributions but also provide a critical foundation for future exploration and extraction initiatives. As the GEMx project progresses, the insights gained from this airborne research could prove invaluable in addressing the growing demand for essential minerals in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
NASA/Christopher LC Clark
NASA
ER-2
pilot Kirt Stallings waits inside the transport vehicle moments before boarding the airborne science aircraft at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. Outside the window, the aircraft is being readied for a high-altitude mission supporting the
Geological Earth Mapping Experiment (GEMx)
, a multi-year NASA–U.S. Geological Survey campaign to map critical mineral resources across the Western United States. The GEMx team believes that undiscovered deposits of at least some of the 50 mineral commodities deemed essential to U.S. national security, to the tech industry, and to clean energy exist domestically, and modern mineral maps will support exploration by the private sector.
In 2025 alone, the ER-2 flew 36 science missions, collecting more than seven billion measurements over 200 flight hours, contributing to the largest airborne surface mineralogy dataset ever gathered in a single NASA campaign. For this mission, pilots flew at approximately 65,000 feet altitude, requiring them to wear specially designed pressure suits to safely operate in the thin atmosphere.
Image credit: NASA/Christopher LC Clark
Text credit: Darin L. Dinius
