Unizen, an innovative exchange ecosystem leader alongside CeDeFi incubator and ecosystem, and ZenX announced a partnership with Geometric Energy Corporation to make and launch DOGE-1, the first cryptocurrency funded mission to space.
They announced that a 40 kgs CubeSat will go to a stable lunar orbit to gather lunar spatial information using its onboard camera array and sensor. The data will be sorted and sent to GED using an onboard communications module.
CEO of Unizen and the ZenX Incubator, Sean Noga, talking about the partnership, said:
Geometric Energy Corporation is a truly innovative and ambitious team with an impressive vision for the future and a deep belief in ever-expanding use cases. XI Protocol is a groundbreaking evolution in how space infrastructure connects to distributed ledger technology. Initially, this technology will enable satellite-based, space display screens (driven by tokenized claims) and the untapped realm of Web3 connected data reporting rewards on SATCOM communication networks.”
Mr Noga also added,
Unizen is thrilled to both incubate and onboard GEC’s XI Protocol to our strategic partners.”
The partnership is set to initiate several firsts for both the space community and the crypto community. For example, the launch consensus for a slot on Q1 2022 Falcon 9 was funded using DogeCoin, making it the first spaceship paid for entirely using a cryptocurrency.
SpaceX Vice President of Commercial Sales stated, Tom Ochinero,
This mission will demonstrate the application of cryptocurrency beyond Earth orbit and set the foundation for interplanetary commerce. We’re excited to launch DOGE-1 to the Moon!”
GEC’s incubation at ZenX Labs is a first-of-its-kind example of scientific and tech teams working together, leveraging a unique crypto use case, and advancing the field of space exploration.
GEC’s CEO, Samuel Reid responded to the partnership agreement, stating that Geometric Energy Corporation is proud to partner with Unizen for pushing the boundaries of distributed ledger technology in space and grateful for their ongoing collaboration to help bring us to the moon!
The mission has been a major success even before the launch because it has demonstrated cryptos ability to act as a seamless, stable and versatile financing method even for projects as big as the launch of spacecraft. The two companies are confident that the milestone they have achieved by using crypto to launch spacecraft will set the precedence for future cryptocurrency funded projects.
DOGE-1 if launched within the Q1 2022 window will break one more record, with over 1600 cubesats launched so far, they were all launched into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) which is 155 to 1,200 miles above the Earth’s Crust. While the company is contemplating a launch to the moon, this would be a more complex undertaking since the cubesats would have to cover 250,000 miles to reach their destination.
NASA’s CAPSTONE was expected to be the first cubesat to land on the moon, but its launch has been delayed multiple times and is currently expected to launch in March 2022. Therefore, DOGE-1 could become the first cubesat in human history to land on the moon, a significant milestone for the spaceflight industry.