Fujitsu develops new collaboration platform for JAXA

Fujitsu has built JAXA Sphere, a new communication platform based on Office 365, Microsoft's integrated information sharing cloud service for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). 

The platform optimises communications through a system design that takes into consideration the flow and routing of email transmission and reception and a network design that ensures security. All JAXA employees, about 1,500 people, as well as the employees of its companies and partners who participate in operations at all of JAXA's 23 locations in and outside Japan, have had access to JAXA Sphere at any time, from anywhere since January 2017.

Source: JAXA/NASA. The cargo transfer vehicle KOUNOTORI6
(こうのとり6号機) on its sixth flight held by the International Space Station’s
robot arm.

JAXA Sphere supports real-time communication between employees, enabling smooth coordination through online meetings, joint document editing functionality, and an understanding of who is present at work. The platform supports improvements in the speed and efficiency of business processes and R&D because team members can hold meetings and discussions online and work together to create or edit materials without gathering in one place.

As a communication platform for JAXA, the agency tasked with launching rockets, managing satellites, and supporting the International Space Station, it was critical to have a system design finetuned to the special requirements of its operations, including security, reliability, and easy maintenance. 

Using its experience of deploying its own in-house communication platform, as well as accumulated expertise on JAXA, such as with JAXA's satellite control systems, the characteristics of JAXA's business and their unique network environment and data structure, Fujitsu offered proposals at the system concept stage that are reflected in the final system design, including a network connection method that offers strong security and an overall email delivery flow method. In addition, Fujitsu built the communication platform while considering system operation rules for events unique to JAXA, such as satellite launches, to limit their impact on business systems.

Fujitsu also worked to promote usage by setting up a user support site and preparing manuals that can be used at any time. It also held group training with JAXA's information systems department at six locations throughout Japan, including at Tanegashima Space Center to introduce hands-on functionality demos, as well as by creating videos aimed at those who could not attend the group training or for use in iterative learning. Through these initiatives, and by building the system in just about five months, operations for all employees, both within and outside Japan, were migrated from the old system just eight months after construction began, supporting early adoption.