The White House requested NASA to establish a standard time for the moon and other celestial bodies, as the U.S. seeks to lead in space standards amidst growing competition for lunar resources among nations and private entities. The directive was issued by the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
NASA has been tasked with collaborating with other U.S. government agencies to create a plan by the end of 2026 to implement a timekeeping system in space, known as Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC), according to a memo obtained by Reuters.
Variations in gravity on celestial bodies, among other factors, influence the passage of time differently than on Earth. LTC serves as a reference for timing lunar missions that require extreme precision for spacecraft and satellites.
Kevin Coggins, NASA’s space communications and navigation chief, explained, “A clock that works accurately on Earth will run at a different pace on the moon.”
According to the memo from OSTP Director Arati Prabhakar, Earth-based clocks would lose approximately 58.7 microseconds per day for individuals on the Moon, leading to a further time deviation. Periodic fluctuations are also a factor.
Coggins likened the atomic clocks at the U.S. Naval Observatory to the heartbeat of the nation, emphasizing the importance of synchronization in space.
NASA’s Artemis program aims to land astronauts on the moon and establish a scientific base to aid future Mars missions. Numerous companies, spacecraft, and countries are involved in this venture.
Uniform lunar time standards are deemed crucial by OSTP officials to ensure data security between spacecraft and synchronize communications between Earth, lunar assets, and astronauts, preventing errors in mapping and location tracking.
The deployment of an atomic clock on the moon’s surface may be necessary as commercial activities expand to ensure operational coordination, transaction reliability, and logistical efficiency.
The United States, which has previously landed astronauts on the moon, faces competition from other countries like China, Japan, and India with their own lunar exploration plans.
The memo also highlights the importance of defining Coordinated Lunar Time through existing standards bodies and agreements like the Artemis Accords, emphasizing the need for international cooperation in space.
Coordinated Universal Time plays a role in implementing Coordinated Lunar Time, with the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union defining it as an international standard.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
