When the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull spewed a massive ash cloud into the atmosphere in 2010, flights were disrupted across Europe for months, with passengers stranded in some 20 countries. NASA is hoping to make that experience a thing of the past, thanks to new technology that could significantly improve the mapping capabilities for these massive clouds. Volcanic ash is incredibly dangerous for airplanes because it can damage the aircraft or, if it gets into the engine, melt and cause failure. Airlines thus avoid the clouds by a wide margin, and use manual estimates from a worldwide network of Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers to guesstimate the borders of the cloud. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland has been working to develop new techniques for more accurate cloud mapping using satellites. Before now, it’s been impossible to spot volcanic ash cloud material on standard weather maps, but satellites can analyze their chemical makeup easily. This technique will allow for better prediction of ash cloud height and movement, hopefully reducing the burden on airlines trying to avoid disruption. That’s good news for travelers, who will inevitably be affected by the world’s active volcanoes.