NASA plans to use blockchain technology to prevent conspiracy theories about an upcoming trip to the Moon.
In collaboration with Florida-based computing startup Lonestar and the Isle of Man, the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to deploy blockchain technology to authenticate its future Moon landings.
"Data cubes" containing verifiable information will be sent to the Moon as part of a payload in February 2024.
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Utilizing blockchain technology aims to conclusively and immutably prove that the upcoming Artemis 3 mission, scheduled for 2025, will indeed result in humans landing on the Moon.
Before this event, NASA will conduct an Artemis 2 mission set for November 2024. While this mission will be manned, the crew will only orbit the Moon without landing, serving as a final test run before Artemis 3's Moon touchdown.
Lonestar and the Isle of Man are working together to design innovative lunar storage systems powered by solar energy that won't necessitate additional infrastructure. These storage systems will play a crucial role in ensuring the long-term viability of data storage on the Moon.
According to BBC's Science Focus, the test will feature "digital franking" technology, where digital stamps will be stored in data cubes on the Moon. The integrity and completeness of this data will later be verified back on Earth through blockchain technology.
The immutable nature of blockchain will allow future astronauts to interact with these data cubes as a form of lunar check-in. This process will be verified via blockchain, thus serving as a reliable counter to any conspiracy theories that may arise about the Moon landings.
In an interview, the head of innovation at Digital Isle of Man noted the challenge NASA has faced in dispelling conspiracy theories about its six crewed Moon landings between 1969 and 1972. While blockchain won't address past theories, it is poised to be an unassailable record for future lunar visits.
NASA is taking a futuristic approach by integrating blockchain technology into its upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon. In partnership with Lonestar and the Isle of Man, this initiative aims to verify human Moon landings conclusively and effectively quash any ensuing conspiracy theories.
