MIRORES (Multiplanetary far-IR ORE Spectrometer), which was initially an European Space Agency – ESA project, could revolutionize resource prospecting on Earth, the Moon, Mars, and other planets. Developed by an interdisciplinary team led by CEO Jakub Ciążela from the Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, MIRORES introduces an innovative far-infrared (far-IR) spectrometer capable of remotely detecting sulfide and oxide ores.
The MIRORES instrument operates in the 20–35 μm range, a wavelength not previously used for remote prospection due to high water content in Earth’s atmosphere. This makes it particularly well-suited for planetary prospection on the Moon and Mars, where atmospheric water doesn’t obstruct the signal. On Earth, it can be deployed using UAVs flying at altitudes between 20 and 150 meters, especially in arid and polar regions.
Demand for resources like iron, copper, rare earth elements, and platinum group minerals is surging due to the zero-carbon transition. MIRORES addresses this by offering prospection services targeting newly exposed deposits in areas with receding glaciers, such as Greenland, Northern Europe, Canada, Alaska, South America, and mountainous regions.
Beyond terrestrial applications, MIRORES highlights the potential of space-originating resources to supplement materials needed for the zero-carbon transition. By engaging Earth’s mining sector in extraterrestrial resource exploitation and emerging energy materials like helium-3 and pyrite, the project helps bridge terrestrial and space resource development.
POLSA Polska Agencja Kosmiczna | Polish Space Agency initiated sector consultations on a Polish lunar mission. A year later, in May 2023, MIRORES was identified as a priority project: deploying the instrument in lunar orbit. It will be installed on a satellite orbiting about 200 km above the surface in the first mission phase, and about 50 km in the second.
MIRORES was selected among six companies for the 5th round of the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC) Startup Support Program. The team has just completed the pre-incubation phase to refine their vision and validate the technology, with decisions on advancement to the incubation phase expected next week.
Building on these achievements, MIRORES exemplifies the vibrant transformation within Poland’s space sector. The project ‘ignites’ new possibilities at the intersection of geological expertise and cutting-edge spectroscopy, addressing resource challenges both on Earth and beyond.
MIRORES: Pioneering Far-IR Spectrometer for Resource Prospection on Earth and Beyond
