For airplanes flying at high altitudes with modern computers, random bit flips from comsmic radiation is actually a very real threat that has to be considered. IIRC there's about a factor of about 300x more radiation at 30000 ft and 900x at 60000 ft.
Core memory is a lot less sensitive to this than most memory types, so it makes some sense to store the most flight critical data in such a memory.
In addition to NASA's explicitly non-military nature, we do actually maintain some relationship with our USAF counterparts. When it makes sense to do so, we're happy to work on mutually beneficial projects.
Core memory is a lot less sensitive to this than most memory types, so it makes some sense to store the most flight critical data in such a memory.