- NASA is set to launch a lunar mission in February 2024, using blockchain technology to validate data on Earth.
- The mission, known as Artemis 3, will confirm the presence of humans on the Moon.
- Lonestar and the Isle of Man are working on sustainable lunar storage systems powered by solar energy, using digital stamps called “digital franking” to store data on the Moon.
NASA, in collaboration with Lonestar, a Florida-based computing startup, and the Isle of Man, is gearing up for an exciting lunar mission set to take place in February 2024. The mission involves sending a payload to the Moon, but what makes it particularly intriguing is the use of blockchain technology to validate the information contained within “data cubes” on Earth.
If all goes according to plan, this innovative blockchain technology will play a crucial role in definitively and permanently confirming the presence of humans on the Moon during NASA’s second crewed mission, known as Artemis 3, scheduled for 2025.
The Artemis mission is currently progressing to its next phase, with Artemis 2 set for launch in November 2024. While Artemis 2 will have a crew on board, their mission involves departing from Earth, orbiting the Moon, and returning to Earth. While it’s not a direct lunar landing, Artemis 2 serves as the final test before the U.S. government’s ambitious plan to return humans to the Moon’s surface with Artemis 3.
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Among the scientific initiatives taking place during the Artemis missions, Lonestar and the Isle of Man are teaming up to establish sustainable lunar storage systems powered by solar energy, eliminating the need for additional infrastructure. According to a report by BBC’s Science Focus, this involves the creation of “digital stamps,” a technology known as “digital franking,” which will be stored within the data cubes on the Moon. Once deployed, blockchain technology on Earth will be used to verify the data’s completeness and integrity.
One intriguing aspect of blockchain technology is its immutable nature, which could have significant implications for future Moon missions. Astronauts landing on the Moon in the future may use these data cubes to authenticate their presence on the lunar surface. Their interactions and activities could be verified through the blockchain, potentially putting to rest any conspiracy theories regarding Moon landings.
It’s worth noting that NASA has faced challenges in addressing claims that it fabricated the six crewed Moon landings between 1969 and 1972, as highlighted in an interview with the head of innovation at Digital Isle of Man in Science Focus. This innovative use of blockchain technology could serve as a robust means of confirming and preserving the historical achievements of lunar exploration.
