Avalanche is expanding its reach beyond the financial sector and into the cosmos, with the introduction of a novel network designed to authenticate telescope data in real-time. SkyMapper's innovative network, SkyMapper L1, aggregates data from an array of telescopes and sensors worldwide, transforming each observation into a secure digital record. This process, termed 'Proof of Space Observation' (POSO), effectively verifies the occurrence of a specific celestial event, including the time of observation and the integrity of the data. These validated 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 real-time observational data, marking a significant milestone in the integration of institutional science into a blockchain-based verification system. SkyMapper's solution addresses the growing challenge of verifying the authenticity of data from satellites, drones, and space missions.
By leveraging blockchain technology, the team creates a permanent and tamper-resistant record of each observation, enabling independent verification. The system operates by validating observations in real-time, cryptographically signing the data, and transmitting it through SkyMapper's infrastructure.
Instead of relying on a centralized database, SkyMapper distributes the data across a decentralized storage network while saving a digital fingerprint on the Avalanche blockchain. This fingerprint allows for the verification of the data's authenticity and integrity. The network utilizes smart contracts to vet incoming data, organize it, and control access. While sensitive information can be kept private, scientific research can be shared openly.
The outcome is a system where each observation can be independently verified, enabling users to confirm the time and location of the recording, verify the data's integrity, and trace it back to its source.