On Tuesday, the White House directed NASA to establish a unified standard of time for the moon and other celestial bodies, aiming to set international norms in space amidst increased lunar exploration efforts by nations and private companies.
According to a memo from the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), NASA has been instructed to collaborate with other U.S. government entities to develop a plan by the end of 2026 for establishing what is termed as Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC).
The varying gravitational forces and other factors on the moon and other celestial bodies alter the passage of time compared to Earth. LTC would serve as a time-keeping benchmark for lunar spacecraft and satellites that require precise timing for their missions.
Kevin Coggins, NASA’s space communications and navigation chief, explained that clocks on Earth would run at a different rate on the moon due to these factors.
Under NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to send astronauts to the moon and establish a lunar base, a unified time standard is crucial for secure data transfer between spacecraft and synchronized communications between Earth, lunar satellites, bases, and astronauts.
Failure to establish such a standard could lead to errors in mapping and navigation around the moon.
The OSTP official emphasized the importance of having a unified time standard for coordinating operations and managing the logistics of lunar commerce, especially as commercial activities expand to the moon.
Deployment of atomic clocks on the lunar surface may be necessary, and international agreements will be required to define and implement Coordinated Lunar Time.
The OSTP memo highlighted that U.S. leadership in defining a suitable standard would benefit all spacefaring nations, although it acknowledged the need for international cooperation, including with nations like China and Russia, who have not signed the Artemis Accords.
Implementing Coordinated Lunar Time may be influenced by Coordinated Universal Time, an internationally recognized standard for timekeeping.
