NASA, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, awarded a $330,000 grant in 2017 for the development of a blockchain-built, autonomous spacecraft system. This program marked the institution’s foray into blockchain technology.
The European Space Agency (ESA), on the other hand, has been studying blockchain technology to optimize the institution’s administrative processes.
Meanwhile, several space technology start-ups are proving that the outer-space is no longer the sole playfield of some governments. Advanced technology is generally used in space tech. Staying true to this practice; many of the start-ups are built around blockchain technology!
Stay tuned to the end of this blog, where we list a few start-ups combining blockchain technology and space technology.
NASA is working on a system known as the Resilient Networking and Computing Paradigm (RNCP) which is based on blockchain technology and will render a spacecraft autonomous. Wait, aren’t many outer-space missions already unmanned?
Unmanned but unreliable and inefficient as well.
In deep space, the usual communication systems used by space institutions like NASA become restricted as the signal gets weaker. By using smart contracts to identity and dodge hindrances in the spacecraft’s path, the craft will complete more tasks in turn collecting more data. Scientists will be granted sufficient time to capture the information and analyze the information rather than focus on potential environmental threats.
Assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Akron explains –
“I hope to develop technology that can recognize environmental threats and avoid them, as well as complete a number of tasks automatically.”
In 2017, the ESA published a report called ‘Distributed Ledger Technology: Leveraging Blockchain for ESA’s Success’. The report lists the potential benefits of blockchain technology for ESA, for e.g. the use of smart contracts in logistics, faster and precise payments, constant and live access to data updates, a tamper-proof voting system, n advanced update system to access right, etc.
A list of start-ups in blockchain and space technology:
SpaceChain – An open-source network of satellites running on blockchain nodes that optimizes existing infrastructure.
Space Decentral – A start-up aimed at democratizing the space to enable new players, other than the U.S. and Russia, to be a part of space technology.
Blockstream – A blockchain-based decentralized satellite project that aims at providing blockchain services to everyone on Earth. The concept was established way back in 2017.
Nexus – Reliable and affordable internet access through blockchain-powered blockchain platform.
Feelium is a blockchain technology platform providing autonomous smart contracts and escrow services to allow real life adaptations of blockchain technology. Visit www.feelium.co
