Information Sharing Enables Cutting Edge Lunar Exploration

The SLIM lander’s images of the Moon (blue boxes) taken from about 50-meter altitudes, superimposed on the background image by ISRO’s Chandrayaan 2 orbiter for navigation. Image: ISRO / JAXA / SLIM

The day was January 19, 2024. JAXA’s SLIM spacecraft just achieved the most precise Moon landing ever for a robotic vehicle, touching down only 55 meters from its targeted point. A unique enabler of that feat was ISRO, who shared its Chandrayaan 2 orbiter datasets with JAXA for landing site selection as well as for SLIM’s onboard navigation maps. Without the world’s sharpest lunar imager, it wouldn’t be possible for SLIM to spot and navigate to a safe touchdown point without compromising the landing accuracy—the primary mission goal. The two agencies are now collaborating on the joint LUPEX rover mission to study water ice on the Moon’s south pole.

It’s a fine example of state actors bridging their unique strengths to gain more than the sum of their parts. There’s also the recent case of international researchers getting access to lunar samples from China’s Chang’e 5 mission for detailed scientific studies. One such lab is from the UK’s Open University. The UK does not have an independent lunar landing program but it does have state-of-the-art laboratories and world-class planetary scientists. With the samples, UK researchers are uniquely advancing humanity’s understanding of our Moon’s origin and evolution, which in itself is tied to that of Earth and the history of our Solar System. For China, it also helps maximize the output of its missions.

Such data sharing and access are useful not just for enabling cutting-edge lunar exploration but to have it continue safely as well. The US, India, and South Korea constantly coordinate their polar orbiters to avoid uncomfortably close passes with each other. A collision otherwise would render low lunar orbit dangerous for all orbiters while also obstructing surface landers traversing through the region.

All of these examples represent commendable efforts from each actor. But unfortunately, they’re also ad hoc or opportunistic in ways that don’t scale with the increasing pace of Moon missions worldwide. Different states share different information at different times, in different formats, and through different channels at varying levels. Information sharing and coordination is thus dispersed, and not efficient for safety, sustainability, or abundant progress. Improving it for more actors can compound perks for all.

To that end, in 2025 the non-profit Lunar Policy Platform (LPP) has embarked on the “Lunar Information Sharing 101” initiative. With funding from the Open Lunar Foundation and in synergy with multilateral initiatives within UN COPUOS, the Foundation spent five months consulting over 70 representatives from 35 governments, space agencies, companies, and experts to understand converging and diverging views on when, where, and how to share lunar mission information. The resulting document will be released publicly later this year after feedback.

You can read more about the initiative and contact LPP with your feedback and ideas.