Avalanche is expanding its reach beyond finance into the realm of space exploration with the introduction of a new network designed to verify telescope data in real-time. SkyMapper's innovative Avalanche-based network utilizes cryptographic methods to record observations from telescopes worldwide, converting each data point into a secure and verifiable digital record. This network, known as SkyMapper L1, aggregates data from a diverse array of telescopes and sensors globally, creating a secure digital record for each observation.
The company refers to this process as 'Proof of Space Observation' (POSO), which serves as a means to verify the occurrence of a specific celestial event, including the time of occurrence 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 live observational data, marking a significant production-scale integration of institutional science into a blockchain-based verification system.
SkyMapper's solution addresses the growing challenge of verifying the vast amounts of data generated by satellites, drones, and space missions, which can be altered or misattributed. By leveraging blockchain technology, SkyMapper creates a permanent and tamper-resistant record of each observation that can be independently verified by anyone. The system operates by validating observations at the moment they are captured. When a network telescope records an event, the data is immediately cryptographically signed, creating 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 check incoming data, organize it, and control access. Certain information, such as sensitive government or defense data, can be kept 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 check the recording time and location, confirm 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.'