{"id":18157,"date":"2019-02-01T20:14:10","date_gmt":"2019-02-01T12:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/how-satellites-and-blockchain-go-together\/"},"modified":"2019-02-01T20:14:10","modified_gmt":"2019-02-01T12:14:10","slug":"how-satellites-and-blockchain-go-together","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/how-satellites-and-blockchain-go-together\/","title":{"rendered":"How satellites and blockchain go together"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_477842\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-477842\" style=\"width: 630px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full-width wp-image-477842\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/190201-longmarch-630x394.jpg\" alt=\"Long March launch\" width=\"630\" height=\"394\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/190201-longmarch-630x394.jpg 630w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/190201-longmarch-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/190201-longmarch-1260x787.jpg 1260w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/190201-longmarch.jpg 1322w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" id=\"caption-attachment-477842\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Chinese Long March 4B rocket lifts off from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in October 2018. One of the payloads was a nanosatellite equipped with a SpaceChain blockchain node. (CCTV via SciNews \/ YouTube)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It\u2019s been three months since Planetary Resources, the asteroid mining venture headquartered in Redmond, Wash., was acquired by the ConsenSys blockchain studio&nbsp;\u2014 and although the venture currently known as ConsenSys Space hasn\u2019t yet take the wraps off its business plan, another space-centric blockchain venture just might provide some clues.<\/p>\n<p>Singapore-based SpaceChain has been ramping up its activity over the past year, highlighted by the launch of two nanosatellite-based blockchain nodes into orbit aboard Chinese Long March rockets in February and October of 2018.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, SpaceChain said it ran a successful test of space-to-ground blockchain transactions&nbsp;\u2014 specifically, the completion of a signature verification procedure that could theoretically be used for contracts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe multi-signature cold wallet service&nbsp;\u2013 an application developed by SpaceChain engineers to test the space node \u2013 shows proof of technology of being a potential cyber security solution for the blockchain industry,\u201d SpaceChain co-founder and chief technology officer Jeff Garzik said in a news release.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"callout clearfix\"><strong>GeekWire Guide<\/strong>: What is blockchain, and why is it a potential game-changer?<\/h4>\n<p>Today, SpaceChain and the Arch Mission Foundation reported that one of the digital payloads stored aboard the satellite launched in October was Arch\u2019s Orbital Library, containing a complete copy of Wikipedia.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Orbital Library on SpaceChain\u2019s satellite is the beginning a ring of backup data orbiting around the Earth, and constitutes the first extraterrestrial archive and first step in establishing more Arch libraries that will preserve human knowledge and culture,\u201d Nova Spivack, co-founder of the Arch Mission Foundation, said in a news release. \u201cThrough massive replication around the solar system we will be able to guarantee that the Arch Libraries will never be lost \u2013 even millions to billions of years in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The foundation is also planning to send installments of its Lunar Library Project for archiving on the moon\u2019s surface. The first installment is being placed on SpaceIL\u2019s lunar lander, and the second installment will fly to the moon on Astrobotic\u2019s Peregrine lander as early as next year.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s possible to add to the Orbital Library as the archive expands.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe support the Arch Mission Foundation\u2019s goal of preserving knowledge for future generations and are excited to play a part in achieving that mission through our satellite technology,\u201d SpaceChain co-founder and CEO Zee Zheng said. \u201cAs launch costs are reduced, we are able to achieve important missions like Arch\u2019s and opportunities in space that were never before possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"What is SpaceChain?\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PMwdHT-Lb7I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\" data-width=\"800\" data-height=\"450\" style=\"display: block; margin: 0px; width: 800px; height: 450px;\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The best-known blockchain applications have to do with cryptocurrency, but the technology can be used as well for non-currency applications such as verifying the supply chain for a given product, or ensuring that a document or a database hasn\u2019t been surreptitiously tampered with.<\/p>\n<p>In a series of answers to emailed questions, SpaceChain CEO Zee Zheng explained why space-based operations add a benefit to blockchain. Here\u2019s the Q&amp;A, with apologies for Zheng\u2019s crypto-geeky references to potentially arcane aspects of blockchain technology:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong>GeekWire:&nbsp;This would be a way to conduct secure transactions in space, right? For example, a person could store cryptocurrency in a satellite constellation rather than depending on a terrestrial, internet-connected network that could be prone to pilfering (as we\u2019ve seen with past cryptocurrency scandals)?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Zee Zheng:<\/strong>&nbsp;\u201cYes, by using a node in space we remove the physical attack vector as well as a high degree of security on the supply-chain attack vector (given how much testing and review is required to put a device in space), and our hardware and software does not interact with the internet. Instead, it only interacts with our satellite payloads, removing a significant hacking attack vector, and using a 2\/3 multi-signature transaction structure, users retain full control of their funds.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHere\u2019s how a multi-signature transaction would work. After selecting the&nbsp;SpaceChain&nbsp;space multi-signature service, the user will get the wallet address public key of a Space Node. The user can generate a 2\/3 multi-signature wallet address on the client with his own wallet address, alternate contact wallet address, and the Space Node wallet address.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe role of the alternate contact wallet address is that if there is a problem connecting with the Space Node, the user can enable the private key of the alternate contact wallet address to retrieve the encrypted currency in the multi-signature wallet address. When the user wants to initiate a transaction, the client first transfers the cryptocurrency to the multi-signature wallet address. After the user signs the confirmation with his private key, the transaction that completes the signature is sent and received from the Space Node, and then broadcast to the Qtum blockchain.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>GeekWire: I know Qtum [pronounced like \u201cquantum\u201d] is a blockchain system that can be used for cryptocurrency or other blockchain-secured applications \u2026 If you could provide some examples of potential applications \u2026 that would be a great help. Also, it\u2019d be good to answer the question about why space rather than terrestrial-based blockchain systems.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zee Zheng:<\/strong> \u201cWe are envisioning applications like ultra-secure encrypted messaging, a space-based distributed data center, etc. And of course we will be able to facilitate blockchain transactions in rural areas, oceans and places that terrestrial network is not available.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>GeekWire: I assume there\u2019s a link between Qtum and&nbsp;SpaceChain, just as there\u2019s a link between Ethereum and ConsenSys Space?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Zee Zheng:<\/strong> \u201cQtum is one of our partners and early supporters, and we have plans to make good use of their smart contract capabilities. However, we are also integrating ETH [Ethereum] and other public chains. So we are not exclusive with Qtum, we are open to all the open-source technology as long as it fits our vision.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe have had some interactions with the ConsenSys team and are excited that more people are working on blockchain + space. We look forward to hearing their updates.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>For what it\u2019s worth, SpaceChain and ConsenSys aren\u2019t the only companies working on blockchain + space. A report published today by Asia Times lays out the details on several other blockchain-related space ventures, including Blockstream in Canada, Supreme Global Holdings&nbsp;in Sri Lanka and Malta, Space Impulse in Estonia and XYO Network in San Diego. XYO is planning to have its EtherX satellite launched into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, potentially late this year.<\/p>\n<p>Bottom line? When ConsenSys Space unveils its blockchain strategy, it\u2019ll be taking a giant leap into what\u2019s already a busy frontier.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Chinese Long March 4B rocket lifts off from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in October 2018. One of the payloads was a nanosatellite equipped with a SpaceChain blockchain node. (CCTV via SciNews \/ YouTube) It\u2019s been three months since Planetary Resources, the asteroid mining venture headquartered in Redmond, Wash., was acquired by the ConsenSys blockchain [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[4940,4818,5066,4820,5067,20,5068],"class_list":["post-18157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-blockchain","tag-consensys","tag-cryptocurrency","tag-planetary-resources","tag-qtum","tag-satellite","tag-spacechain"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18157"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18157"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18157\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}