What time is it on the Moon? NASA is trying to figure that out. Together with other global partners, the US space agency is launching a new effort to try to establish a coordinated time for the Moon. The aim is to create a Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) so everyone can be on the same page. Who knows, if people ever live on the Moon–and that is actually a real plan of the new Artemis program–this could be important to know when the new Call of Duty comes out.
NASA’s Space Communication and Navigation program is taking point alongside other members of the US government and “international standards organizations.” How will they come up with a time?
NASA said it will be determined by a “weighted average of atomic clocks on the Moon.” This is similar to how Earth’s Coordinate Universal Time (UTC) is calculated. However for Coordinated Lunar Time, scientists have some additional issues to overcome.
“Exactly where at the Moon is still to be determined, since current analysis indicates that atomic clocks placed at the Moon’s surface will appear to ‘tick’ faster by microseconds per day,” NASA said. “A microsecond is one millionth of a second. NASA and its partners are currently researching which mathematical models will be best for establishing a lunar time.”
NASA says this is a critical undertaking in part because the space organization aims to send humans back to the Moon in its Artemis program and to establish a “sustained presence” or and around the Moon.
“The approach to time systems will also be scalable for Mars and other celestial bodies throughout our solar system, enabling long-duration exploration,” NASA said.
There is also a need for a time standard because the commercial space industry is growing quickly, and accurate and coordinated time-keeping is important for safe and sustainable journeys, NASA said.
In terms of the commercial space industry, just last week, SpaceX took astronauts higher into space than anyone has gone in 50 years and conducted the first commercial spacewalk. Billionaire Jared Isaacman paid his way and completed the spacewalk alongside astronaut Sarah Gillis. Both successfully splashed down off Florida on Sunday. In less-than-ideal space travel news, the astronauts who went to the International Space Station in June remain stuck there due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule.