Avalanche is expanding its reach beyond finance into the cosmos with a novel network designed to verify telescope data in real time. SkyMapper's dedicated Avalanche-based network, known as SkyMapper L1, collects and cryptographically records observations from a diverse range of global telescopes and sensors, converting each data point into a secure digital record.
This process, termed 'Proof of Space Observation' (POSO), effectively proves the occurrence, timing, and integrity 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 data explosion from space missions and the challenge of verifying its integrity.
By leveraging blockchain technology, the team creates a permanent, tamper-resistant record of observations that can be independently verified. The system operates by validating observations in real-time, cryptographically signing and time-stamping each event before 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 for later verification. Smart contracts regulate incoming data, organize it, and control access, allowing for the private storage of sensitive information and the open sharing of scientific research.
The outcome is a system where each observation can be independently verified, enabling users to confirm the recording time and location, verify the data's 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.'