Moon News
MOON DAILY
In first, US directs NASA to create lunar time standard
In first, US directs NASA to create lunar time standard
by AFP Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) April 3, 2024

The White House announced Tuesday it is directing NASA to create a unified time standard for the Moon and other celestial bodies, as governments and private companies increasingly compete in space.

With the United States keen to set international norms beyond Earth's orbit, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) instructed the US space agency to formulate a plan by the end of 2026 for a standard it is calling Coordinated Lunar Time.

"As NASA, private companies, and space agencies around the world launch missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, it's important that we establish celestial time standards for safety and accuracy," OSTP Deputy Director for National Security Steve Welby said in a statement.

He noted how "time passes differently" depending on positions in space, offering the example of how time appears to pass more slowly where gravity is stronger, such as near celestial bodies.

"A consistent definition of time among operators in space is critical to successful space situational awareness capabilities, navigation, and communications," Welby said.

The aim, the White House says, is for Coordinate Lunar Time, or LTC, to be tied to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), currently the primary time standard used throughout the world to regulate time on Earth.

The White House directed NASA to work with the Departments of Commerce, Defense, State and Transportation to deliver a time standard strategy that will improve navigation and other operations for missions in particular in cislunar space, the region between Earth and the Moon.

The new standard will focus on four features: traceability to UTC, accuracy sufficient to support precision navigation and science, resilience to loss of contact with Earth, and scalability to environments beyond cislunar space.

There were few technical specifics for establishing a lunar time standard laid out in the memorandum, but OSTP suggested it could adopt elements of the existing standard on Earth.

"Just as Terrestrial Time is set through an ensemble of atomic clocks on Earth, an ensemble of clocks on the Moon might set Lunar Time," it said.

The United States is planning a return to the Moon in 2026, humanity's first lunar landing since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

Related Links
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
MOON DAILY
VIPER rover hoists its Mast ahead of lunar mission
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 02, 2024
The NASA Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, better known as VIPER, now boasts enhanced capabilities and a taller stature, courtesy of its newly raised mast. This mast, acting as the rover's "neck" and "head," is equipped with a comprehensive suite of instruments. These tools will aid the rover team, consisting of drivers and scientists operating in real-time, in navigating the lunar South Pole's treacherous terrain, including crater slopes and boulders, while avoiding communication blackou ... read more

MOON DAILY
Looking back at Hinman Col: Sols 4146-4147

Continuing up the Channel: Sols 4139-4140

An Intriguing Mess: Sols 4141-4143

Perseverance uncovers a watery past on Mars

MOON DAILY
Titan's Dense Atmosphere Offers New Insights into Methane Chemistry

The aurora of Enceladus reveals itself one last time to Cassini

Saturn's largest moon most likely non-habitable: Western study

Life on 'Death Star' Saturn moon Mimas has hidden ocean

MOON DAILY
The PI's Perspective: Needles in the Cosmic Haystack

The Persistent Ices of Kuiper Belt Object 486958 Arrokoth

New study reveals potential "ice bombs" among Kuiper Belt Objects

Unlocking the Secrets of Eternal Ice in the Kuiper Belt

MOON DAILY
Artemis 3 to include Space Lab's LEAF Plant Science Experiment

Music of Space: An Ode to the Sonic Frontiers Beyond Earth

Kayhan Space welcomes Mark Mueller to spearhead government growth in space traffic management

Voyager 1's Data Transmission Issue Traced to Memory Corruption, Fix in Progress

MOON DAILY
Researchers unveil novel technique for creating atomically thin nanoscrolls

MIT.nano equipment to accelerate innovation in "tough tech" sectors

MOON DAILY
Lockheed Martin Ventures Backs Helicity Space for Fusion Propulsion Advancements

Rocket Lab set to launch dual-orbit mission featuring KAIST and NASA satellites

China continues to grow its remote-sensing fleet with Yaogan 42A launch

North Korea says it test-fired new solid-fuel hypersonic missile

MOON DAILY
Shenzhou 17 astronauts complete China's first in-space repair job

Tiangong Space Station's Solar Wings Restored After Spacewalk Repair by Shenzhou XVII Team

BIT advances microbiological research on Chinese Space Station

Chang'e 6 and new rockets highlight China's packed 2024 space agenda

MOON DAILY
Mynaric Accelerates Space Communication with CONDOR Mk3 Production

NASA collects 'space debris' that crashed into Florida man's home

D-Orbit and Plan-S Forge Strategic Partnership for Satellite Deployment

SwRI advances space sustainability with new in-space refueling craft

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.