The US-based Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) and the Open Network (Ton) Foundation have launched a new telegram-based mini app with which users can vote about who can fly to space on board a blue origin rocket.
The initiative, called Mission Control, is part of a broader effort to ‘democratize’ access to space by opening astronaut selection for global users via Onchain voting on the Ton Blockchain, according to a Tuesday announcement shared with Cointelegraph.
According to the announcement, SERA has protected all six seats on a future Blue Origin New Shepard mission, which is currently planned for the launch between the first and second quarter of 2026.
Five seats are reserved for people from countries who have had a limited or no representation in space, namely India, Nigeria, Brazil, Thailand and Indonesia. The sixth seat is open to the global public, with the exception of people from countries who are subject to sanctions.
Max Crown in Singapore at the Token 2049 conference. Source: Cointelegraph
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Ton launches Onchain Space votes
Applicants must register via the Mission Control Telegram Mini app, which integrates Onchain votes via the Ton Blockchain. Participants can support candidates by completing challenges and earning in-app points, called “Spacedust”.
In an interview with Cointelegraph during the Token2049 conference, Ton Foundation CEO Max Crown revealed that the final selection will be determined by a combination of national formats, including online voices and TV programs, depending on the country.
“The idea was to democratize space,” said Crown. “Going to space was always very elitist. And there is, I think, 300 astronauts or something, if you actually count it,” he added.
Financing for the project comes from the Ton Foundation, in addition to sponsorship and potential advertisements linked to national campaigns. The long-term goal is to repeat the model in extra countries, using similar open selection mechanisms.
Crown said that the initiative is also intended to stimulate the adoption of Telegram Wallet and a wider blockchain participation. To vote, users must make a TON wallet within Telegram. Performance and participation baths are issued as non-fungal tokens (NFTs) on Ton.
Sera describes itself as a ‘space agency for everyone’, with the aim of offering ordinary citizens opportunities to become astronauts and participate in space science. It previously sent a Brazilian citizen to space in 2022 via a similar NFT-based campaign. That effort led the participant to become a national celebrity, according to Crown.
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Ton wallet is launched in the US
In July Telegram rolled out his self-wide crypto-wallet, Ton Wallet, to users in the United States. Built on the Ton Blockchain, the wallet enables users to send, receive and save assets such as USDT and Toncoin directly in the Telegram app.
Ton Wallet was developed by the Open Platform, a technology company aimed at making Web3 apps for Telegram. On July 3, the Open Platform announced its successful $ 28.5 million Series A finance round, in which a rating of $ 1 billion was achieved.
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