JAOPS—Strengthening Lunar Collaboration Through Mission Operations Integration

November 03, 2025 — The Open Lunar Foundation launched the Lunar Ledger, a new open-access database of global lunar activities and objects. The Ledger provides a single, shared platform where governments, companies, and researchers can publish and cross-reference mission information — a practical step toward transparency and coordination as activity on and around the Moon increases.

The launch took place during the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney, where Open Lunar signed Memoranda of Understanding with its first commercial partners — including Japan-based JAOPS. Innovation on the Moon is rarely a solo achievement. JAOPS, a leader in Japanese mission operations and the “One-stop Shop for Mission Operations Design, Tools, Training and Support for Mission Success,” joined the Lunar Ledger as a new signatory, adding a vital layer of expertise and ingenuity to the coalition.

The recent work of JAOPS providing mission operations and developing the mission control system for the YAOKI micro-rover that landed on the Moon in March 2025 as part of the IM-2 lunar mission vividly illustrates their role at the crossroads of complexity and collaboration. Rather than designing the rover hardware, JAOPS focused on solving some of the most demanding interoperability challenges, ensuring systems from multiple partners communicated reliably in one of the most unforgiving environments imaginable.

This hands-on experience with integrating diverse tools and platforms not only reinforced JAOPS’s commitment to shared success, but also gave them a front-row seat to the value of transparent data and coordination. Observing how Ledger’s founding partners set the tone for trustworthy, coalition-led standards, JAOPS recognized a natural alignment with their own dedication to mission success through openness and reliability.

We’re delighted to welcome JAOPS into the Lunar Ledger community. Their technical perspective and deep operational insight help shape a platform that’s genuinely built for the reality of lunar missions: collaborative, resilient, and designed for success.