New Delhi, Sept 30 (BVI)– Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) is revolutionizing
public participation in space exploration with the launch of a new decentralized program,
democratizing access to space through a Telegram mini app powered by TON Blockchain.
In a landmark moment for onchain participation, SERA is transforming space exploration into
a global open-access initiative where anyone with a smartphone can participate in either
becoming or selecting an astronaut for an opportunity to fly on an upcoming Blue Origin New
Shepard mission.
SERA has reserved six seats on a future Blue Origin New Shepard mission — five for partner nations, India being one. Other 4 seat have been allocated to Nigeria, Indonesia, Brazil, and Thailand.
The sixth seat is open to everyone else on the planet from a nation that is not sanctioned by the US. Registration for all these 6 seats are open now.
This integration leverages the massive reach of Telegram and the unique capabilities of the
TON Blockchain to create a new model for public engagement in spaceflight.
The heart of this program is the SERA Mission Control mini-app, accessible directly within
Telegram.
Unlike traditional mobile apps, this experience requires no separate download or
installation, offering seamless, one-tap access to Telegram & its nearly 1 billion users.
Within the mini app, SERA is reimagining astronaut selection as a global, public event.
Users worldwide can complete challenges, build communities, and earn SpaceDust, an in-
app points system.
This initiative extends SERA’s previous collaboration with Blue Origin which saw SERA’s first astronaut, Victor Hespanha, selected from the SERA community to become South
America’s first civilian astronaut.
Blue Origin is committed to enabling a future where millions of people live and work in space for the benefit of Earth. This collaboration not only provides a human spaceflight opportunity for everyday citizens but also launches a new platform for microgravity research.
“Our mission is to make space accessible to everyone,” said Phil Joyce, SVP, New Shepard.
“We look forward to watching the global community participate in this novel program—and to
welcoming the lucky six to West Texas soon.”
Central to this initiative is the SERA Science Platform, a new decentralized framework for
space-based research.
The platform will utilize TON Blockchain to allow the global community to submit and vote on scientific experiments for the upcoming mission. This DeSci (Decentralized Science) approach aims to lower the barriers to entry, making space science accessible to a wider network of students, innovators, and researchers.
“SERA’s Mission Control mini app is space exploration reimagined for a generation of social
media users,” said Max Crown, President and CEO of TON Foundation.
“By launching on TON and making it instantly accessible inside Telegram, SERA is transforming space travel from something distant and untouchable into an experience that’s achievable, interactive, and fully onchain. This is exactly the kind of exciting, culture-shifting launch that TON was
built to power.” (BVI)
