Avalanche is expanding its reach beyond finance into the cosmos with a novel network designed to verify telescope data in real-time. SkyMapper's 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 'Proof of Space Observation' (POSO) essentially verifies the authenticity, timing, and integrity of celestial events. These verified records can be utilized by scientists, businesses, or government agencies requiring reliable space data. The SETI Institute is contributing real-time observational data, marking a significant integration of institutional science into a blockchain-based verification system. SkyMapper addresses the growing challenge of verifying the authenticity of data from satellites, drones, and space missions.
By leveraging blockchain technology, the team creates a permanent, tamper-resistant record of each observation that can be independently verified. The system operates by validating observations at the moment of capture, cryptographically signing the data, and transmitting it through SkyMapper's infrastructure. Instead of relying on a central database, SkyMapper distributes the data across a decentralized storage network while saving a digital fingerprint on the Avalanche blockchain. This enables anyone to verify the data's authenticity and integrity.
Smart contracts are used to check, organize, and control access to incoming data, allowing for both private and public data sharing. The outcome is a system where each observation can be independently verified, enabling users to confirm the recording time, location, and source, while ensuring the data remains tamper-proof. According to Emin Gün Sirer, founder and CEO of Ava Labs, 'We are 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.'