On 18th April, the news outlet, Space.com reported that a new grand which will support the development of an autonomous spacecraft that would take decisions without any human interference has been issued by The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

NASA issued a grant amounting up-to $330,000 to Jin Wei Kocsis, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Akron, Ohio. This grant was issued to provide all the necessary funding she requires for her research.

Kocsis mentioned that the research program will study the application of Ethereum based Blockchain technology in creating a secure computing system which will be implemented in deep space. Her statement reads as follows:

“With regards to this project, an Ethereum based Blockchain technology will be used to develop a safe decentralized networking platform to enhance the computing framework and explore outer space. I intend to develop a technology that can recognize possible environmental threats and disasters prior which can help take early precautions and prevention measures, also along with that carry out a range of physical tasks automatically. I feel privileged that my hard work and efforts have been recognized by NASA, and I am overly excited to work more towards this and further test the technology’s ability to think and carry out tasks automatically on its own .”

In order to build a spacecraft that can possibly “think” for itself, due to which it could automatically detect and evade floating debris in a timely manner, the system will be implementing the underlying “smart contract” technology, as per reports.

Wei Kocsis believes that by installing the blockchain technology, spacecraft could possibly get more tasks done, provide more, and present scientists with more time for analyzing information, as they would not have to constantly keep track of possible environmental threats.

Although, no information regarding the timeline for when Wei Kocsis technology would be implemented and launched into space, was revealed by the University of Akron. But significantly, the advanced communications program manager at NASA’s Glenn Research Center, Thomas Kacpura did mention that this is the first time a Blockchain application is being considered by NASA in terms of space navigations and communication.

Back in February, Qtum, a decentralized Blockchain application platform which can run “smart contracts”, had announced that it’s “Very first space-based Blockchain node,” had been launched on a Chinese satellite.