Remember the dreaded "Blue Screen of Death"? Earlier this year in July, a routine Windows update triggered a wave of system failures, freezing millions of computers around the world. People found themselves staring at the ominous blue screen as their devices crashed—work deadlines were missed, flights were delayed, and even vital hospital services were disrupted. It wasn't a cyberattack or a catastrophic failure; just an ordinary update gone wrong. The chaos was a reminder of how dependent we’ve become on technology and how a minor glitch can have far-reaching consequences.

Now, imagine the same kind of failure happening, but instead of losing work or missing a flight, you’re stuck in space. That’s what happened to astronaut Sunita Williams. She and her fellow astronaut, Butch Wilmore, were sent on a quick mission to the International Space Station (ISS). What was supposed to be an 8-day trip ended up being an 8-month stay because of some unforeseen technical issues. 

While most people would panic at getting stranded in space, Sunita kept her cool. From sending Diwali greetings from orbit to voting in an election and even wearing a Santa hat for Christmas, she stayed calm under pressure. Her husband describes space as her “happy place,” and it’s clear her calmness transformed what could have been a nightmare into a remarkable experience.

But this situation, much like the "Blue Screen of Death", raises a critical point regarding our growing reliance on technology. The more "smart" devices we add to our lives—whether it is phones, cars, security systems, or even kitchen appliances—the more these small failures assume importance.

What happens when the technology we depend on lets us down? It is not so surprising that whether it's locking oneself out of one's home because of a failed smart lock or missing an important payment due to a crashed app or, even failure in the hospital system, it has become increasingly common.

Just like Sunita Williams had to depend on systems which kept her safe in outer space, we, too, depend on these technological systems to go through our daily lives. But what happens when those systems fail? We saw it with the "Blue Screen of Death," and we see it every time a smart system breaks down. It's not just a minor inconvenience—it can lead to serious disruptions, especially in critical sectors like healthcare, transportation, and finance. The bigger question is: Are we prepared for these failures?

While we can't undo our dependence on technology, we can make sure our systems are better equipped to handle failures. Sunita Williams was prepared for the unexpected in space, but most of us aren't given the tools or training to handle tech failures in our own lives. 

That is why organizations, from NASA to tech giants like Microsoft, from hospitals to financial institutions, must ensure that their systems are designed to withstand and recover from glitches. These companies need to invest in fail-safes, backups, and recovery protocols in order to ensure that when things go wrong, the impact is minimized.

Individually, we can also take responsibility for our own preparedness. Having backups for important files, alternative payment methods, and a contingency plan for when tech fails can help ease the frustration when systems break down. We can't eliminate tech failures entirely, but we can certainly reduce their impact.

No matter how advanced our technology is, it can fail, or crash. We cannot avoid tech glitches, but we can prepare for them. Whether it is on Earth or in space, the bottom line is to ensure that when things go wrong, we are prepared to handle it with poise and resilience.

In a world that is increasingly driven by technology, preparing for its inevitable failures isn't just smart—it's essential. After all, if we can send astronauts into space, surely we can ensure that our technology on Earth is built to withstand the occasional hiccup.