Avalanche is expanding its reach beyond finance into the cosmos with a novel network designed to authenticate telescope data in real-time. SkyMapper's dedicated Avalanche-based network, 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), verifies the occurrence, timing, and authenticity of celestial events, providing reliable space data for scientists, businesses, and government agencies. The SETI Institute is contributing real-time observational data, marking a significant integration of institutional science into a blockchain-based verification system. SkyMapper's solution addresses the growing challenge of verifying the integrity of data from satellites, drones, and space missions.
By leveraging blockchain technology, the system creates a permanent, tamper-resistant record of each observation, enabling independent verification. The network operates by validating observations in real-time, cryptographically signing data, and transmitting it through SkyMapper's infrastructure. Instead of relying on a centralized database, the data is dispersed across a decentralized storage network, with a digital fingerprint saved on the Avalanche blockchain. This fingerprint allows for later verification of the data's authenticity.
The network utilizes smart contracts to organize and control access to the data, ensuring the privacy of sensitive information while facilitating the sharing of scientific research. The outcome is a system where each observation can be independently verified, enabling users to confirm the recording time, location, and authenticity of the data. Ava Labs' founder and CEO, Emin Gün Sirer, stated, 'We're developing blockchain infrastructure for real-world impact.
SkyMapper's work in anchoring observatory data on Avalanche demonstrates how this technology can transform science, providing tamper-proof, verifiable telescope records.'