NASA takes unusual step to secure future of air travel

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has turned to blockchain technology to enhance air travel safety and security.
NASA is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country’ civil space program and for research in aeronautics and space exploration.
The agency’s researchers recently conducted a drone flight test at the Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley to test a blockchain-based system for protecting flight data, NASA said on Jan. 16.
Understanding blockchain technology
A blockchain is a decentralized digital database or ledger that securely stores records across a network of computers in a way that is transparent, immutable, and resistant to tampering.
Each block holds data, and the blocks are held together with a chain. Hence, a blockchain.
NASA explores blockchain technology to combat cyberthreats
NASA said it is exploring the blockchain system to keep air traffic data transferred between aircraft and ground stations from being intercepted or manipulated.
The agency said it realized the need for deploying blockchain technology in the face of growing cyberthreats.
This NASA research explored how this technology can secure digital transactions between a large number of systems and operators.
Scroll to Continue
Recommended Articles
The team used an open-source blockchain framework that allows trusted users to share and store critical data like aircraft operator registration information, flight plans, and telemetry in real time. At the same time, this framework restricts data access to trusted and approved users only, NASA said.
The team demonstrated the cybersecurity resilience of the system using an Alta-X drone with a custom-built software and hardware package during a flight at Ames in August 2025.
In fact, the test simulated an environment with a drone flying in real-world conditions, complete with a separate ground control station and the security infrastructure.
More News:
Elon Musk’s X cracks down on AI bot rewards, triggering token crash
White House advisor reveals surprising hurdle to Bitcoin reserve
Quantum threat forces 63-year old investment bank to abandon Bitcoin
The blockchain framework deployed in the test can be extended to support high-altitude operations at 60,000 feet and higher and urban air mobility operations, NASA claimed.
Using drones let the NASA research team demonstrate that the blockchain technology could deliver benefits across several priority areas in aviation development, including autonomous air traffic management, urban air mobility, and high-altitude aircraft, the agency said.
The project falls under NASA’s Airspace Operations and Safety Program. It is a part of the agency’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate that works to enable safe, efficient aviation transportation operations.
The tests will benefit U.S. aviation stakeholders looking for new tools to improve operations and the researchers will apply what they’ve learned to future work, NASA said.