Decentralised Autonomous Community in Space

The number of spacecraft in low-Earth orbit, along with the data and services they provide, is growing rapidly and will continue to expand over the coming decades. However, space operations and governance remain largely unchanged, limiting the potential of space-based services and posing risks to the sustainability of the space environment.

As these spacecraft become increasingly interconnected, they will evolve into an Internet of Things (IoT) network, creating a vast, distributed system of sensors in orbit. My research envisions transforming this network into a Decentralised Autonomous Community in Space, governed by its members via a distributed ledger, independent of centralised government or corporate control. Decisions on spacecraft separation and orbital manoeuvres would be made autonomously, enhancing safety and sustainability in space. This would be achieved through a system of coordinated movements, machine-to-machine tasking, and smart contracts that minimise collision risks and reduce the creation of space debris.

My current focus is assessing different distributed ledger technologies to determine their suitability for the unique challenges of the space environment. It involves evaluating various characteristics, such as consensus mechanisms and architecture, to identify how these technologies can be optimised for space and secure, decentralised control and communication between spacecraft.