Space communication to introduce blockchain technology for the first time

Blockchain technology is growing faster than it is ever expected to be. Initially, the technology was expected to serve economically, later the importance of the technology was understood through the ETHEREUM platform and its smart contract functionality.

A recent news from NASA had put everyone into a great surprise. Can you guess what it would be? No? Then have a look at this post, you will be able to find a better idea of what new plans NASA has come with.

Before we could proceed with NASA’s new plan let us have a run through on blockchain technology.

What is blockchain technology?

The blockchain is supposed to be the new form of internet. Though it was an aspect that was devised for the digital currency, the tech community is trying to find out other potential aspects of the technology.

So, what actually is blockchain technology?

“Blockchain technology is an incorruptible digital ledger that can be programmed to maintain a record of economic transactions” – Don & Alex Tapscott, authors Blockchain Revolution (2016).

It is obvious that blockchain technology is programmed to maintain records of transactions. Further, this technology is durable and robust as it cannot be controlled by a single entity and has no single point of failure.

Let us see what else is so special about the blockchain technology,

The idea of decentralization:

The blockchain technology owns a decentralized design pattern. Any transaction that occurs is a part of a network on its own. On the other hand, stock market becomes simultaneous on the blockchain. For instance, it could make various types of record keeping. Thus, a multi-functional system is operable through blockchain technology.

This being an ultimate cause, NASA has decided to implement blockchain technology in its communication system.

As mentioned earlier, Ethereum is a part of blockchain technology that runs smart contracts. With Ethereum applications can be able to run exactly as programmed without the interference of downtime. The applications run on blockchain that are custom built on global infrastructure.

Though the blockchain technology is still an uncharted territory, researchers intend to explore whether this blockchain could serve various areas of technology.

A recent post from a UA website disclosed that the faculty member Dr. Jin Wei Kocsis from Electrical and Computer Engineering department received a grant of $330,000 for her research on “Resilient Networking and Computing Paradigm(RNCP)”.

The new research is evolved to find whether, how blockchain could help space communication. The urge for using this technology is, NASA had an inconvenience in handling the space communication. Everything needs to be handled manually while communicating with the space shuttle which involved immense effort.

In order to overcome this hindrance, NASA has decided to adopt blockchain technology in space communication and spacecraft. By involving the technology, the spacecraft will be able to think on its own.

Spacecraft that thinks:

NASA has come up with a leading effort to develop a Resilient Networking and Computing Paradigm that uses the blockchain technology which includes the “smart contracts”.

Here the blockchain technology has obtained a transformation from currency to building an aircraft that thinks on its own. In this project, the Ethereum blockchain technology is implied to develop a decentralized network, security, cognitive networking, and computing infrastructure that help deep space exploration.

Dr. Jin said “I hope to develop technology that can recognize environmental threats and avoid them, as well as complete a number of tasks automatically,” she adds. “I am honored that NASA recognized my work, and I am excited to continue challenging technology’s ability to think and do on its own.”

Blockchain to dominate IoT:

Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the most important and emerging technological trends that is expected to emerge into the world of science and in the upcoming inventions. When people expected things to happen in a way they really wanted it to be, blockchain technology took the stand in all technological aspects.

Blockchain technology emerged into the world of the internet making people realize there is something more than the Internet of Things. And that turned out to be true.

When blockchain entered the world of internet it was assumed to be the one that would highly support economic status of the world. Later the ultimate purpose of the blockchain technology was understood.

Blockchain technology was efficient to provide security with a decentralized network. This made people turn back towards the technology. Internet of Things was able to provide only a limited service and lacked security when compared to blockchain technology.

With this in mind, researchers had to come up with a better idea.

If a system could provide security and could be operated by a decentralized network, why not it can think on its own?

This intention made researchers rethink on space communication system and work on it. Thus, NASA ended up with awarding $330,000 grant to the University of Akron’s assistant professor Dr. Jin Wei to research how to make space hardware smarter and more autonomous.

There is a suspect that this research process may integrate Internet of Thing in it. Thus, making space-based sensors more efficient and responsive.

Wrap up:

It is expected that there would be a great revolution in space communication system and spacecraft on the intervention of blockchain technology. Added the technology would bring in more secure network enhancing the mode of communication.

News Source:

NASA Initiates Ethereum Blockchain Technology Research for Space Communications and Navigation