While we already have a satellite orbiting earth using blockchain technology, many are looking to send their own satellite into orbit and use the distributed ledger feature of this tech for amongst many things, logistics and transparency.
Blockstream is known to be the first to broadcast real-time Bitcoin transactions from a group of satellites in space.
BlockStream
Since Blockstream's first satellite went live back in 2017, they already have a few more that were sent up and are online and running. All of Earth's major landmasses have the Bitcoin blockchain broadcasting to them via their satellites.
Source: Blockstream
You can even go as far as sending encrypted messages into space via their satellites through the SpaceBit platform.
https://spacebit.live/
You used to be able to see on Twitter the live transmissions of messages sent but the account has been suspended for now.
Source: BitcoinMagazine
You can view the satellite transmission queues here.
If you're interested in running your own satellite node to work with Blockstream, you can check out this terrific DIY guide in the link below.
Source: Medium
SpaceChain
With the space race in full swing, we are seeing startups like SpaceChain send their blockchain hardware wallet technology to the International Space Station (ISS).
Once activated, the payload will demonstrate the receipt, authorization, and retransmission of blockchain transactions, creating “multisig” transactions which require multiple signatures (approvals) to complete, increasing the security of the operation. All data will be both uplinked and downlinked directly through Nanoracks’ commercial platform.
Source: SpaceChain
IBM
IBM also announced earlier this year they are joining the blockchain space race with their long partnership with NASA and are working with Cloud Constellation Corporation to explore edge computing in space. One of the prototype solutions they are looking into is logistics and supply chain for the space industry using blockchain.
Source: IBM
Apple Satellite?
Source: MacRumors
We know Apple has blockchain in their view. They released their CryptoKit earlier this year. The kit enables developers to work with a set of cryptographic secure hashes and one of them being SHA256, the same one we all come to know Bitcoin's Blockchain is built on. It makes speculation more likely that we'll see some type of blockchain product from them via commercial or business. Rumors reported last week about Apple working on satellites to beam data to devices doesn't seem too far fetched. It could be a way for Apple to get into blockchain. Aside from speculation, Other tech companies such as Amazon and Facebook are trying to have the internet accessible to everyone in every country in the world.
How Far Are We From Having Bitcoin on The Moon?
It might be sooner than you think. Back in September, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) placed a job ad for a Data Scientist on LinkedIn. It does not specifically state it is a blockchain-related job however, part of the qualifications mentions blockchain experience being a plus.
Source: LinkedIn
We can only speculate what that could be but with how things are looking, Bitcoin doesn't seem so far from reaching the moon.
Source: Medium
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Thank you for reading,
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