On September 30, 2025, SERA introduced a new way to engage the public in space programs by launching a unique decentralized platform — Mission Control — directly on Telegram, powered by the TON Blockchain. This initiative aims to expand access to space missions, allowing anyone with a smartphone to participate in astronaut selection or vote for a candidate who will fly to space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard.
At the core of the program is the SERA Mission Control mini app, which works without requiring a download. It is available directly within Telegram, providing instant access to nearly one billion users worldwide.
Users can complete tasks, build communities, and earn SpaceDust, the platform’s internal reward system. These points help candidates and their supporters climb the leaderboard for a chance to receive public votes and win one of six available seats on the launch. Voting will be conducted through a decentralized system built on TON, ensuring transparency and fairness.
SERA has reserved seats on an upcoming Blue Origin New Shepard flight. Five of these seats are allocated to citizens of countries that have historically had little or no representation in space, including Nigeria, India, Indonesia, Brazil, and Thailand. The sixth seat is open to participants from all other countries, excluding regions subject to U.S. sanctions.
In addition to astronaut selection, the project includes a decentralized platform for scientific research. Community members will be able to propose and vote on experiments to be sent into space, opening new opportunities for students, researchers, and innovators who previously lacked access to such programs.
SERA’s co-founders noted that this marks the first time a space program has become truly accessible to a broad global audience, with the integration of TON and Telegram making participation simple and inclusive.
The TON Foundation also emphasized that Mission Control represents a new real-world application of blockchain technology, transforming space exploration into an interactive and democratic process for the global community.
