NEW JERSEY / LONDON (IT BOLTWISE) – An incident involving a JetBlue plane has drawn attention to the potential dangers of cosmic radiation to aviation. A burst of radiation from a distant supernova may have been the cause of the plane’s sudden loss of altitude, resulting in multiple injuries. Experts warn of the rare but possible impact of such events on aviation safety.
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A recent incident involving a JetBlue aircraft has drawn attention to the potential dangers of cosmic rays to aviation. The flight from Cancun to Newark experienced a sudden loss of altitude, possibly caused by a cosmic ray burst from a distant supernova. This radiation may have triggered a so-called ‘bit flip’ in the flight computer, resulting in data corruption and the abrupt loss of altitude.
Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at The Planetary Society, explained that while such events are rare, they are not impossible. Earth is constantly bombarded by cosmic radiation, which is normally shielded by Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere. However, in space travel, such radiation bursts are a greater threat, which is why spacecraft use special hardware to protect sensitive components.
The probability of such an event hitting an aircraft is very low, but not impossible. Particularly during times of high solar activity, when solar storms occur, such particle flows can increase. These can not only affect the on-board electronics of aircraft, but also disrupt GPS systems and even affect the power grid.
The aviation industry could respond to such threats through improved hardware and software, particularly advanced error correction algorithms and better radiation shielding. However, such measures are costly and the rarity of such events could limit investment in these technologies. Nevertheless, aviation safety remains a key concern and research in this area continues.
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