The White House has instructed NASA to establish a standardized time system for the moon and other celestial bodies, as part of the United States’ efforts to establish global standards in space exploration amidst increasing competition among nations and private entities.
In a memo obtained by Reuters, the Head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has directed NASA to collaborate with other branches of the U.S. government to develop a plan by the end of 2026 for implementing what is termed as Coordinated Lunar Time (CLT).
Factors such as variances in gravitational forces and other celestial dynamics influence the perception of time on the moon and other celestial bodies in comparison to Earth. The establishment of CLT aims to provide a standardized timekeeping framework for lunar missions, including spacecraft and satellites requiring precise synchronization.
Kevin Coggins, NASA’s Chief of Space Communications and Navigation, highlighted in an interview the necessity for a distinct timekeeping system, noting that the passage of time on the moon differs from that on Earth due to gravitational variances.
The memo from OSTP Chief Arati Prabhakar outlines that, according to projections, an Earth-based clock would exhibit an average loss of 58.7 microseconds per Earth day when observed from the moon, accompanied by additional periodic fluctuations that further separate lunar time from Earth time.
“Imagine if the world wasn’t syncing their clocks to the same time – how disruptive that might be and how challenging everyday things become,” the official said.
On Earth, most clocks and time zones are based on Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC. This internationally recognized standard relies on a vast global network of atomic clocks placed in different locations around the world. They measure changes in the state of atoms and generate an average that ultimately makes up a precise time.
Deployment of atomic clocks on the lunar surface may be needed, according to the OSTP official. Coordinated Universal Time might influence how Coordinated Lunar Time is implemented, the OSTP official said. The U.N.’s International Telecommunication Union defines Coordinated Universal Time as an international standard.
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