Avalanche is expanding its reach beyond finance into the cosmos, with a new network aimed at real-time verification of telescope data. SkyMapper's dedicated Avalanche-based network cryptographically secures observations from telescopes worldwide, generating tamper-proof digital records.
This network, known as SkyMapper L1, aggregates data from various telescopes and sensors, transforming each observation into a secure digital record. Dubbed 'Proof of Space Observation' (POSO), this process proves the occurrence, timing, and authenticity of celestial events, providing reliable space data for scientists, businesses, and government agencies. The SETI Institute is contributing live observational data, marking a significant integration of institutional science into a blockchain-based verification system. SkyMapper addresses the growing issue of verifying the integrity of space data, leveraging blockchain to create permanent, tamper-resistant records.
The system validates observations in real-time, cryptographically signing and time-stamping data before transmitting it through SkyMapper's infrastructure. Instead of relying on a central database, SkyMapper utilizes a decentralized storage network, saving a digital fingerprint of the data on the Avalanche blockchain for later verification.
Smart contracts govern incoming data, ensuring organization, access control, and privacy for sensitive information. The result is a system enabling independent verification of each observation, allowing users to confirm its authenticity, source, and tamper-proof status. According to Emin Gün Sirer, founder and CEO of Ava Labs, 'We're developing blockchain infrastructure for real-world impact, and SkyMapper's work demonstrates how this technology can revolutionize science by providing tamper-proof, verifiable telescope records.'