A new lunar time zone has been defined for the Moon.
John Raoux/AP
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John Raoux/AP
A new lunar time zone has been defined for the Moon.
John Raoux/AP
As the world prepares for a new space race, the Biden administration is calling on NASA to create a time standard based on the Moon. Indeed, time passes faster on the Moon than on Earth.
The difference is very small, but space flight requires extreme precision. And when lunar spacecraft and satellites operate on an Earth-based time standard, that difference could create problems, according to a memo released this month by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
The new lunar time zone, Cooperative Lunar Time (LTC), is intended to ensure the success of future multinational missions to the Moon, said Michelle Hanlon, executive director of the Center for Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi.
“It’s not just about the United States going back to the Moon alone. We’re going there as Artemis partners – right now, 36 countries – and they’re spread across the world. We need to so find a way to do it. talk to everyone at the same time,” she said.
The LTC would not resemble a regular time zone on Earth. On Earth, these zones are defined using Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which reflects a weighted average measurement of hundreds of extremely precise atomic clocks placed around the globe.
Creating a lunar time zone would require international agreements.
NASA Johnson
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NASA Johnson
Creating a lunar time zone would require international agreements.
NASA Johnson
Due to the Moon’s low gravity and its motion relative to Earth, lunar time passes 56 microseconds faster each Earth day. As a result, an atomic clock on Earth would run at a different rate than an atomic clock on the Moon.
In the same way that UTC time is determined, the memo suggests that “a set of clocks” deployed on the moon could be used to define the new time standard.
The memo also notes that creating the LTC would require international agreements.
Hanlon said taking this step toward a unified approach to space travel is important to establishing international collaboration on the Moon.
“I hope this is the start of a collaboration. When you think about the geopolitical circumstances here on Earth, it doesn’t seem particularly encouraging,” she said.
Hanlon said that with several players in the current space race seeking to land near the Moon’s south pole, finding an international standard will be crucial.
“We all agree that space should be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. We all agree that we have free access and freedom of exploration and use,” she declared.
“Let’s all agree on how we’re going to tell time on the Moon.”
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