A unified time standard will be developed for the Moon (2 photos)

NASA has been instructed to do this by 2026.





The head of the US Office of Science and Technology Policy, Arati Prabhakar, instructed NASA to develop a unified time standard for the Moon and other space objects by the end of 2026. It will be called Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC).

It is noted that on the Moon, the Earth's clock lags by 58.7 microseconds per day and has other periodic deviations. In his note to NASA, Prabhakar notes that without a single time standard, there will be difficulties in ensuring the security of data transmission between spacecraft and synchronizing communications between Earth, lunar satellites, bases and astronauts.

"The same clock we have on Earth would move at a different speed on the Moon. Think about the atomic clock at the US Naval Observatory. They are the heartbeat of the nation, synchronizing everything. You will want to hear the heartbeat on the Moon," said the head of the space department. NASA communications and navigation Kevin Coggins.



As you know, the Earth is standardized by Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is based on a network of atomic clocks installed in different parts of the planet. It is noted that LTC will also require the installation of atomic clocks on the surface of the Moon.

The introduction of a single time standard for the Moon is primarily necessary for Artemis, an international program for activities on the Moon and in space. 36 countries participate in the program, but Russia and China have not signed an agreement to participate in it.

It was previously reported that NASA plans to land astronauts on the Moon in September 2026, and for this, apparently, they are going to introduce LTC. China, by the way, announced the landing of people on the Earth’s satellite by 2030, India - by 2040.