Avalanche is expanding its reach beyond the financial realm, entering the vast expanse of space with a novel network designed to verify telescope data in real-time. SkyMapper's innovative Avalanche-based network, known as SkyMapper L1, aggregates data from a diverse array of telescopes and sensors worldwide, converting each observation into a secure digital record.
This process, termed 'Proof of Space Observation' (POSO), essentially verifies that a specific celestial event occurred, when it happened, and that the data remains unaltered. These verified records can then 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 one of the first large-scale integrations of institutional science into a blockchain-based verification system. SkyMapper's solution addresses the growing concern of data explosion from satellites, drones, and space missions, as well as the challenge of verifying data integrity.
By leveraging blockchain technology, SkyMapper creates 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, such as a satellite pass or deep-space signal, the data is immediately cryptographically signed, creating a unique fingerprint tied to that device. 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 when and where it was recorded, confirm its 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.'