The White House has tasked NASA with a new responsibility. In a letter released on Tuesday, officials stated that the administration wants the US space agency to develop a universal standard time for the moon and other celestial bodies. This request is part of an initiative to establish a standard for timekeeping.
The need for new Lunar Time Zone
According to the White House, the proposed Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) is intended to enhance assistance and efficiency in space missions. The administration also stated that the development of the new time zone must be completed by the end of 2026.
Arati Prabhakar, the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, clarified in the letter that a unique time zone is, “fundamental to the scientific discovery, economic development, and international collaboration.”
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Prabhakar highlights the importance of standardizing time for the moon, emphasizing its potential to enhance safety in space operations. She also acknowledged the significant implications linked to the establishment of LTC. Due to the moon’s lower gravity compared to Earth, time progresses approximately 58.7 microseconds faster on the natural satellite.
The letter continues, “Due to general and special relativity, the length of a second defined on Earth will appear distorted to an observer under different gravitational conditions, or to an observer moving at a high relative velocity.”
Additionally, it states that to ensure safe navigation for upcoming space missions, “the area within the moon’s orbit must have a consistent definition of time among users.”
“Exploration of Cislunar space opens a new sphere of human activity and offers opportunities to advance scientific understanding, exploration, and economic growth,” it adds.
“We are grateful to those across the community who have contributed to date, and to those who continue to share their valuable knowledge to shape our collective understanding of this topic as we move forward,” Prabhakar further added.
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