Mini-GRNS can detect water and measure important elements such as iron, silicon, aluminum, potassium, thorium, and uranium beneath the Martian surface. It does this by capturing signals naturally emitted by these materials. Testing and simulations show the Mini-GRNS can identify the presence and amount of underground water, as well as key minerals, at depths up to approximately one meter within just a few hours.

This instrument uses significantly less energy than previous technology, meaning it can easily operate on small spacecraft. By accurately revealing underground ice and valuable minerals on Mars, Mini-GRNS provides critical data that could help future Mars missions identify landing sites, understand Martian geology, and find essential resources needed to sustain astronauts during extended stays on the planet.