Single-event upset

So, you know how your toys can sometimes break if you drop them or play with them too rough? Well, imagine something similar happening to a computer or a spacecraft when it's flying through space.

Single-event upset is like a toy breaking, but for electronics. It happens when particles from space hit the computer or spacecraft and mess up the way the computer works. Kind of like how a toy can get messed up if you drop it or hit it too hard.

Now, these particles from space are everywhere, but they usually don't hurt us or our toys because they're too small. But sometimes, they can be just the right size and energy to mess up a computer or a spacecraft.

This problem is a big one, especially for things that rely on computers or electronics to work, like satellites or airplanes. Scientists and engineers are working hard to figure out ways to protect our electronics and make sure they don't get upset by these pesky particles.