At the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, the president and chair of the Filecoin Foundation discussed the foundation’s initiatives to showcase the application of decentralized technologies in space communications.
The Filecoin Foundation declared the conclusion of a demonstration on January 16. It utilized an InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) implementation for space communications to transmit files from Earth to outer space and return.
Belcher asserts that the exhibition is the culmination of an almost three-year partnership with the aerospace firm Lockheed Martin, which ultimately paid off when the undertaking showcased the efficacy of decentralized systems in space. Belcher elaborated:
“From the beginning, it was actually envisioned as a technology that could enable long-distance networking, like in space. That’s why it was called the InterPlanetary File System. We finally have realized this original vision.”
In light of this, Belcher posited that decentralized systems in space communications exhibit greater efficiency. Belcher explained that while centralized systems do not display any issues on Earth, delays do occur in space. “There is a delay of multiple seconds when one is on the moon and several minutes when one is on Mars.”
The delay is because to retrieve a file, an individual would have to travel “entire distances from Earth back to space.” According to Belcher, this model is inapplicable to space.
In contrast, Belcher elucidated that in the case of a decentralized system, the protocol employs a content identification system rather than relying on file locations as the determining factor. This enables file access from the closest satellite.
“If there is a nearby entity, such as a lunar surface or an orbiting satellite, and the file exists in a location closer, it will retrieve it from the closest location,” Belcher further explained.
In addition to its efficiency, Belcher elaborated that the IPFS facilitates data verification. It employs cryptographic techniques to ensure that the transmitted data remains untainted. Per the executive’s assertion, this proves advantageous in authenticating satellite imagery. Belcher declared:
“The data gets a content ID, and that means if it’s tampered with, the content ID will change, which means you can actually cryptographically verify that data is the satellite image you took.”
Furthermore, the executive highlighted specific concerns about centralized architecture in the context of space debris and radiation. Belcher explained that storing files in space is difficult because radiation could cause file corruption.
Belcher believes this would be fine with a decentralized protocol because the files would be retrieved from any location. “You are welcome to numerous copies. Even if a single file becomes corrupt, the consequence is inconsequential.