TON, SERA seek to ‘democratize’ space travel with onchain astronaut voting

The US-based Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) and The Open Network (TON) Foundation have launched a new Telegram-based Mini App that will allow users to vote on who gets to fly to space aboard a Blue Origin rocket.

The initiative, called Mission Control, is part of a broader effort to “democratize” space access by opening up astronaut selection to global users via onchain voting on the TON blockchain, according to a Tuesday announcement shared with Cointelegraph.

According to the announcement, SERA has secured all six seats on a future Blue Origin New Shepard mission, currently scheduled for launch between the first and second quarters of 2026.

Five seats are reserved for individuals from countries that have had limited or no representation in space, namely India, Nigeria, Brazil, Thailand and Indonesia. The sixth seat is open to the global public, excluding people from countries that are subject to sanctions.

Max Crown in Singapore at the Token 2049 conference. Source: CointelegraphRelated: TON may become the first everyday blockchain by 2027

TON launches onchain space voting

Applicants must register through the Mission Control Telegram Mini App, which integrates onchain voting 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 final selection will be determined by a combination of national formats, including online voting and TV shows, depending on the country.

“The idea was basically to democratize space,” Crown said. “Going to space was always very elitist. And there’s, I think, 300 astronauts or something, if you actually count it,” he added.

Funding for the project comes from the TON Foundation, alongside sponsorships and potential advertising tied to national campaigns. The long-term goal is to repeat the model across additional countries, using similar open-selection mechanisms.

Crown said the initiative is also meant to boost Telegram wallet adoption and broader blockchain participation. To vote, users must create a TON wallet within Telegram. Achievements and participation badges will be issued as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on TON.

SERA describes itself as a “space agency for everyone,” aiming to provide opportunities for ordinary citizens to become astronauts and participate in space science. It previously sent one Brazilian citizen to space in 2022 through a similar NFT-based campaign. That effort led to the participant becoming a national celebrity, according to Crown.

Related: TON’s UAE ‘golden visa’ mishap shows why legal reviews matter

TON Wallet launches in the US

In July, Telegram rolled out its self-custodial crypto wallet, TON Wallet, to users in the United States. Built on the TON blockchain, the wallet allows users to send, receive and store assets like USDT and Toncoin directly inside the Telegram app.

TON Wallet was developed by The Open Platform, a tech company focused on creating Web3 apps for Telegram. On July 3, The Open Platform announced its successful $28.5 million Series A funding round, achieving a $1 billion valuation.

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