Avalanche is expanding its reach beyond finance into the realm of space, introducing a novel network designed to authenticate telescope data in real-time. SkyMapper's dedicated Avalanche-based network cryptographically secures observations from telescopes worldwide, converting each data point into a reliable digital record. This network, known as SkyMapper L1, aggregates data from various telescopes and sensors globally, creating a secure digital record for each observation. The company refers to this process as 'Proof of Space Observation' (POSO), essentially verifying the occurrence of a celestial event, its timing, and data integrity.
These verified records can be utilized by scientists, businesses, or government agencies requiring trustworthy 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 addresses the growing issue of data explosion from satellites, drones, and space missions, and the challenge of verifying data integrity.
The team proposes that blockchain technology can resolve this by creating a permanent, tamper-resistant record of each observation that can be independently verified by anyone. The system operates by validating observations at the moment of capture. 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 later verification of 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 be kept private, while other data, like scientific research, can be shared openly. The outcome 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 anchoring observatory data on Avalanche demonstrates how this technology can transform science, providing tamper-proof, verifiable telescope records.'