Avalanche is expanding its reach beyond the financial sector, venturing into space with a novel network designed to verify telescope data in real-time, providing a secure and tamper-proof record of celestial observations. SkyMapper's innovative network, SkyMapper L1, aggregates data from a diverse array of telescopes and sensors worldwide, converting each observation into a secure digital record. This process, dubbed 'Proof of Space Observation' (POSO), essentially validates the authenticity of a specific celestial event, including the time of occurrence and data integrity. These verified records can be utilized by scientists, businesses, and government agencies requiring reliable space data.
The SETI Institute, renowned for its search for extraterrestrial intelligence, is contributing live observational data, marking a significant milestone in the integration of institutional science into a blockchain-based verification system. SkyMapper's solution addresses the growing concern of data explosion from satellites, drones, and space missions, coupled with the challenge of verifying data accuracy and authenticity.
By harnessing blockchain technology, SkyMapper creates a permanent, tamper-resistant record of each observation, enabling independent verification. The system operates by validating observations in real-time, cryptographically signing the data, and assigning a unique fingerprint tied to the recording device. The observation is then time-stamped and transmitted through SkyMapper's infrastructure, with the data being dispersed across a decentralized storage network and a digital fingerprint saved on the Avalanche blockchain. This digital fingerprint allows users to verify the authenticity and integrity of the data.
The network utilizes smart contracts to vet incoming data, organize it, and control access, ensuring that sensitive information remains private while scientific research can be shared openly. The outcome is a system where each observation can be independently verified, enabling users to confirm the recording time and location, verify the data's integrity, and trace it back to its source.
According to Emin Gün Sirer, founder and CEO of Ava Labs, 'We're building blockchain infrastructure for real-world impact. SkyMapper's work anchoring observatory data on Avalanche demonstrates how this technology can transform science, providing tamper-proof, verifiable telescope records.'