Filecoin Foundation demonstrates IPFS data transmission in space, eyes future off-planet networks

The Filecoin Foundation has successfully executed a groundbreaking mission, sending its digital asset’s whitepaper and an image of its mascot, affectionately known as “Biscuit, the FileCorgi,” into orbit and back to Earth using the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS).

As outlined in a Jan. 16 statement, this achievement exemplifies the potential of decentralized technologies in space facilitated by Lockheed Martin-developed software.

The mission showcased the capabilities of IPFS, a decentralized content distribution system, in enhancing communications across vast distances and bolstering resilience in challenging space environments.

The Filecoin Foundation highlighted several key advantages of leveraging IPFS for space communication, including accelerated data transmission, robust data verification, and heightened resilience.

One notable feature of IPFS is its ability to eliminate the need for data to traverse back and forth from Earth with every interaction. Unlike traditional systems, IPFS identifies data based on its content rather than its location, assigning a unique “content ID” to each piece of content.

Consequently, contents are retrieved from the closest available source, streamlining the process and avoiding unnecessary back-and-forth travel between Earth and space.

Marta Belcher, the president and chair of the Filecoin Foundation, said:

“IPFS is called the ‘interplanetary’ file system because, from the beginning, IPFS was envisioned as a technology that could enable networking in space.”

Meanwhile, this successful demonstration is the culmination of nearly three years of collaborative efforts between the Filecoin Foundation and Lockheed Martin Space. The partnership, initially announced in Davos in May 2022, progressed to the unveiling of mission details in Davos in January 2023.

FIL down 2%

News of the recent development did not positively impact Filecoin’s native FIL token, which was down 2% during the past day to $5.79079 as of press time.

The digital asset has faced considerable price struggles after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) labeled it a security in May 2023—a classification vehemently rejected by the Foundation.

Data from Tradingview showed that the price struggles have extended into the new year, with its value down 16% on the year-to-date metric.

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