Avalanche is expanding its reach beyond finance into the realm of space exploration, with the introduction of a network designed to verify telescope data in real-time. SkyMapper's new Avalanche-based network, known as SkyMapper L1, collects data from a variety of telescopes and sensors worldwide, converting each observation into a secure digital record.
This record, referred to as a 'Proof of Space Observation' (POSO), serves as proof that a specific celestial event was observed, when it occurred, and that the data remains unaltered. These verified 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 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 generated by satellites, drones, and space missions, which can be prone to alteration or misattribution.
By leveraging blockchain technology, SkyMapper creates a permanent and tamper-resistant record of each observation, allowing for independent verification. 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 users to verify the data's authenticity and integrity.
The network utilizes smart contracts to vet 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 confirm the time and location of recording, verify the data's integrity, and trace it back to its source. As stated by 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.'