Avalanche is expanding its reach beyond finance into the cosmos with a novel network designed to authenticate telescope data in real-time. SkyMapper's dedicated Avalanche-based network employs cryptography to record observations from telescopes globally, converting each data point into a secure and verifiable digital record.
This network, known as SkyMapper L1, aggregates data from various telescopes and sensors worldwide, creating a secure digital record for each observation. The company refers to this process as 'Proof of Space Observation' (POSO), which essentially verifies the occurrence of a specific celestial event, its timing, and the integrity of the data. These verified records can be utilized by scientists, businesses, or government agencies requiring reliable space data.
The SETI Institute, renowned for its search for extraterrestrial intelligence, is contributing real-time observational data, marking one of the first large-scale integrations of institutional science into a blockchain-based verification system. SkyMapper's solution addresses the growing issue of verifying the vast amounts of data from satellites, drones, and space missions, which can be altered or misattributed.
By leveraging blockchain technology, the team creates a permanent and tamper-resistant record of each observation that can be independently verified by anyone. The system functions by validating observations at the moment of capture.
When a network telescope records an event, the data is immediately cryptographically signed, generating a unique device-tied fingerprint. The observation is then time-stamped and transmitted through SkyMapper's infrastructure. Instead of storing all data in a central database, SkyMapper distributes it across a decentralized storage network while saving a digital fingerprint of the data on the Avalanche blockchain.
This fingerprint enables anyone to later verify the data's authenticity and integrity. The network utilizes smart contracts to validate incoming data, organize it, and control access. Certain information, such as sensitive government or defense data, can remain private, while other data, like scientific research, can be shared openly.
The result is a system where each observation can be independently verified, allowing users to confirm the recording time and location, verify the data's integrity, and trace it back to its source. 'We're developing blockchain infrastructure for real-world impact,' said Emin Gün Sirer, founder and CEO of Ava Labs. 'SkyMapper's work in anchoring observatory data on Avalanche demonstrates how this technology can transform science by providing tamper-proof and verifiable telescope records.'