The White House has tasked NASA with creating a standard time system for the Moon and other space bodies. This move is part of the United States’ efforts to set global standards in space exploration, given the increasing involvement of multiple countries and private companies.
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The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has instructed NASA to collaborate with other US government agencies to develop a plan within two years for implementing “Coordinated Lunar Time” (LTC), as per a recent report by Reuters. LTC aims to provide a unified timekeeping system for lunar activities.
In a similar vein, the European Space Agency had announced plans in 2023 to establish a unique time zone for the Moon. This initiative arose during a meeting of space agency representatives in the Netherlands in late 2022, highlighting the consensus on the necessity of a standardized lunar time reference.
NASA has previously addressed timekeeping challenges in space, notably for the International Space Station (ISS). Although the ISS doesn't have its own time zone, it operates on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), maintained by precise atomic clocks. UTC serves as a compromise among the ISS partners, including the United States, Russia, Japan, and Europe.
In addition to international considerations, there are technical factors to consider. Due to the Moon's weaker gravity compared to Earth, clocks would run slightly faster there, gaining approximately 56 microseconds per day. Furthermore, a lunar day lasts about 29.5 Earth days, presenting unique scheduling challenges. Hence, NASA and other organizations are working on developing a comprehensive “Coordinated Lunar Time” or “Lunar Standard Time” system to address these complexities.
